Their striking colorations may help to camouflage them in the wild. Lion tamarins tend to be a bit larger than the other group, have distinctly elongated digits, and, of course, the manes from which they derive their name. The tamarins' ancestral primate nails have evolved to look like claws on all but their large toes. This enables them to climb up and down tree trunks like squirrels. Tamarins can be distinguished from Marmosets, the other large group of callitrichs, only by the lower jaw and teeth.
Tamarins have rounded jaws, while the jaws of marmosets are V-shaped, with enlarged incisors.
They live in a variety of forest habitats, and are primarily fruit eaters. They'll also feed on seeds, exudates, nectar, and animal prey. Though a couple of species will come to the ground for prey, most rarely leave the trees. Most are territorial, with some actively patroling their borders. Group size is normally small.