Golden-headed Lion Tamarin, eating fruit of a bromeliad. Bromeliads are essencial resource of fruit, as foraging site for insects and resting place.

The golden headed lion tamarin (Leontopithecus chrysomelas) is endemic to the Atlantic Forest of eastern Brazil, one of the most threatened ecosystems in the world. The species is found only in a restricted part of southern Bahia State and is considered endangered according to IUCN list. Two types of forest are found within its original distribution: Wet Forest, on the east, an area dominated by shade cocoa plantations with moderate forest connectivity; and Mesophytic Forest (Semi-deciduous Forest - a drier habitat marked by a height seasonality), on the west, where the scenario is dominated by cattle ranching areas and the remaining populations of L. chrysomelas are found in small and isolated forest fragments. There is no protected area on this region. Knowledge on a given species ecology and behaviour is an essential step for its management and conservation.

Golden headed lion tamarin is a relatively well studied species, however only populations living in an area covered by Wet Forest have been monitored in a protected area (UNA Biological Reserve).  Two groups of tamarins will be monitored and radio transmitter collars will be fitted to two or three adult individuals of each group. The following parameters will be analysed: time budgets, home range and daily movements, feeding, foraging, sleeping sites and group size and composition. Ecological and behavioural studies of L. chrysomelas in a drier habitat, non-protected and more fragmented area will provide important additional information for future management and conservation actions.