The monk saki (''Pithecia monachus'') also known as Geoffroy's monk saki, is a species of

saki monkey Sakis, or saki monkeys, are any of several New World monkeys of the genus ''Pithecia''. They are closely related to the bearded sakis of genus ''Chiropotes''. Range Sakis' range includes northern and central South America, extending from the s ...

, a type of

New World monkey New World monkeys are the five families of primates that are found in the tropical regions of Mexico, Central and South America: Callitrichidae, Cebidae, Aotidae, Pitheciidae, and Atelidae. The five families are ranked together as the Ceboid ...

, from

South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the souther ...

. It is found in forested areas of northwestern

Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...

and northeastern

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal , national_motto = "Fi ...

Taxonomy

The hairy saki (''P. hirsuta''),

Miller's saki Miller's saki (''Pithecia milleri''), also known as Miller's monk saki, is a species of saki monkey, a type of New World monkey. Its range includes parts of southwestern Colombia, northeastern Ecuador, and perhaps adjacent areas in Peru. This sp ...

(''P. milleri''),

Napo saki The Napo saki (''Pithecia napensis''), also known as the Napo monk saki, is a species of saki monkey, a type of New World monkey. Its range includes parts of eastern Ecuador and northern Peru. The name is derived from the Napo River in its locali ...

(''P. napensis''), and

burnished saki The burnished saki (''Pithecia inusta'') is a species of saki monkey, a type of New World monkey. It is found in central Peru and a small portion of adjacent Brazil. Taxonomy It was described in 1823 by Johann Baptist von Spix, but was later m ...

(''P. inusta'') were previously considered conspecific but were split from this species in 2014. ''P. monachus'' is now known to occupy a much smaller range than it was thought to before the split.

Distribution

This species is found in the interfluvial between the Solimoes River, lower to middle

Ucayali River The Ucayali River ( es, Río Ucayali, ) is the main headstream of the Amazon River. It rises about north of Lake Titicaca, in the Arequipa region of Peru and becomes the Amazon at the confluence of the Marañón close to Nauta city. The city of ...

and lower

Javary River The Javary River, Javari River or Yavarí River ( es, Río Yavarí, links=no; pt, Rio Javari, links=no) is a tributary of the Amazon that forms the boundary between Brazil and Peru for more than . It is navigable by canoe for from above its ...

, in northwestern

and northeastern

Description

This monkey can grow up to be long and weigh about , approximately the same as a large rabbit. The thick, bushy tail can be up to long. It has coarse fur, which is long and shaggy around the face and neck.

Behavior

A shy, wary animal, it is totally arboreal, living high in the trees and sometimes descending to lower levels but not to the ground. It generally moves on all fours but may sometimes walk upright on a large branch and will leap across gaps. During the day, it moves in pairs or small family groups, feeding on fruits, berries, honey, some leaves, small mammals such as mice and bats, and birds. The female gives birth to 1 young per mating season with the average family size being 4.5.

References

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monk saki The monk saki (''Pithecia monachus'') also known as Geoffroy's monk saki, is a species of saki monkey, a type of New World monkey, from South America. It is found in forested areas of northwestern Brazil and northeastern Peru. Taxonomy The ha ...

Primates of South America Mammals of Brazil Mammals of Peru

Monk saki The monk saki (''Pithecia monachus'') also known as Geoffroy's monk saki, is a species of saki monkey, a type of New World monkey, from South America. It is found in forested areas of northwestern Brazil and northeastern Peru. Taxonomy The ha ...