Pale Faced Saki Monkeys

scientific name

Pithecia pithecia

size

Weight: Male 3.5 lbs; Female 3 lbs.
Head and body length: Male 13.8-18.7 in; Female 11.7-16.6 in.
Tail length: Male 12.3-19.9 in.; Female 10-21.3 in.

characteristics

Color: black " Coat thick, coarse, shaggy and long " Male has black muzzle surrounded by creamy-white hairs " Female has bright stripe of hair from beneath each eye to corner of mouth or chin
Body: Tail thick, bushy, non-prehensile, tapers to a point " Legs much longer than arms " Hand prehensile, thumb pseudo-opposable " Nipples located near the armpit " Males sometimes have a large glandular area on throat extending onto chest surrounded by naked skin
Face: Nose flask-shaped with widely separated nostrils

Behavior: Diurnal " Rarely come to ground " Prefer middle levels of forest " Sometimes descend from the canopy to the shrub layer for feeding " Move on all fours, occasionally seen to run upright on horizontal branches " Climbers, can make long downward leaps in trees " Sleep coiled on open branches like a cat. " Usually seen alone or in pairs, family group size no more than 5 " Vocalization: silent in captivity but emit loud and penetrating call in wild

reproduction/life span

Life span: Longest longevity in zoo 35 yr.
Gestation: 163-167 days
Birth: Single young " Births late November or December " Infants cling to mother's belly, later shifting to back " Young independent after 6 months

diet

Wild: Fruit, principally berries; also honey, leaves, flowers, small mammals and small birds " Have been seen going into hollow trees to collect bats which they tear apart and skin before eating
Zoo: fruits, monkey chow, vegetables

habitat/range

Habitat: Tropical rain forest " Prefer unflooded areas " Found up to 2300 ft.
Range: Southern and eastern Venezuela, Guianas, northeastern Brazil

status

CITES Appendix II

other

Hunted for food " captured for pets

oregon zoo exhibit

Amazon

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