leoncita

9.9

A small South American monkey with soft fur and a long tail for balance

noun

: leoncita

The leoncita is known for its silky fur and playful behavior in the rainforest.

Examples

Unlike larger monkeys, the leoncita uses its long tail for balance rather than for grasping branches.
Researchers observed a family of leoncita feeding on insects and fruit.
Look at that leoncita!
The leoncita is adorable.
Researchers observed a family of leoncita feeding on insects and fruit.
The leoncita is known for its silky fur and playful behavior in the rainforest.
Unlike larger monkeys, the leoncita uses its long tail for balance rather than for grasping branches.

Synonyms

marmoset

vsleoncita

5 7.8

A very small monkey from Central and South America with soft fur and claws instead of nails

is a narrower South American form without emphasis on claws

tamarin

vsleoncita

1 8.6

A small monkey from South America with soft fur and a long tail

is a specific South American member rather than a broader family label

lion marmoset

vsleoncita

1 9.9

A small South American monkey with silky fur and a mane of hair around its face

is the same monkey type but lacks prominent facial hair

lion monkey

vsleoncita

8.1

A small South American monkey with soft fur, a golden mane, and a long tail

is the same small South American monkey without mane emphasis

Surface Forms

leoncita singular

leoncitas plural

Etymology

Leoncita comes from Spanish: it is a small form of león ('lion') with the ending -cita meaning 'little' or 'small'. So a leoncita is literally a 'little lion', a name given to this small South American marmoset because its silky fur and face make it look a bit like a tiny lion.