Keywords
diet
foraging
modified environment
protein
How to Cite
Accepted 2026-04-02
Published 2026-10-14
Abstract
Predation events involving vertebrates are rarely observed in wild primates, however they provide valuable insights into foraging strategies, dietary supplementation, and trophic interactions. Callitrichid primates are predominantly omnivorous, relying mainly on fruits and invertebrates, while vertebrate prey represents an important but poorly documented source. Here, we report the first documented case of predation on a lizard, Tropidurus torquatus, by the endangered golden-headed lion tamarin Leontopithecus chrysomelas, an endemic species of the Atlantic Forest. The opportunistic event was observed in November 2025 in a rural area of Ilhéus, southern Bahia, Brazil, within a mosaic of forest remnants and anthropogenic elements. An adult tamarin captured, killed, and partially consumed the lizard, initiating feeding with the visceral contents before the prey was taken by another group member and fullyconsumed. The predation event occurred in a modified microhabitat associated with coconut palms, highlighting the use of anthropogenic elements during foraging. This record expands current knowledge of the diet of L. chrysomelas, provides species-level identification of a vertebrate prey item, and reinforces the role of opportunistic vertebrate predation as a complementary foraging strategy in callitrichid primates.
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