What is the scientific name for the golden lion tamarin?

The scientific name for the golden lion tamarin is Leontopithecus rosalia.

It is a small New World monkey in the family Callitrichidae, which includes tamarins and marmosets. The genus name Leontopithecus combines Greek roots associated with a lion and ape, reflecting the animal’s striking mane-like fur.

Golden lion tamarins are native to Brazil’s Atlantic coastal forests, especially within Rio de Janeiro state. Their bright orange-gold coat makes them distinctive, but habitat loss and disease have made conservation a major concern. Conservation programs, protected reserves, and reintroduction efforts have helped the species recover from extremely low wild numbers.

The name is sometimes confused with those of related tamarins. Leontopithecus chrysomelas is the golden-headed lion tamarin, while Saguinus imperator is the emperor tamarin and Callithrix jacchus is the common marmoset.