Which primate is named for the golden fur around its face and lives in Brazil's Atlantic Forest?

The primate named for the golden fur around its face and living in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest is the golden lion tamarin.

Its scientific name is Leontopithecus rosalia. The species has vivid reddish-gold fur and long hair around the face and ears, creating a mane that explains both “golden” and “lion” in its common name. Its face itself is dark and largely hairless.

Golden lion tamarins are small New World monkeys in the family Callitrichidae. They are endemic to Atlantic coastal forests in Brazil, with their remaining range concentrated in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Habitat loss fragmented much of this forest, but reserves, reintroduction programs, habitat corridors, and local conservation work have helped the wild population recover.

A common mix-up is confusing this animal with a lion-tailed macaque or another tamarin. The “lion” refers to its mane, not to feline ancestry. It is also not simply a golden-colored marmoset: it belongs to the distinct genus Leontopithecus, alongside other lion tamarins.