Saki monkey

Sakis
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White-faced saki (Pithecia pithecia)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Primates
Family:	Pitheciidae
Subfamily:	Pitheciinae
Genus:	Pithecia Desmarest, 1804
Type species
Simia pithecia Linnaeus, 1766
Species
Pithecia aequatorialis Pithecia albicans Pithecia cazuzai Pithecia chrysocephala Pithecia hirsute Pithecia inusta Pithecia irrorata Pithecia Isabela Pithecia mittermeieri Pithecia milleri Pithecia monachus Pithecia napensis Pithecia pissinattii Pithecia pithecia Pithecia rylandsi Pithecia vanzolinii

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 south of Colombia, over Peru, in northern Bolivia. and into the central part of Brazil.

Body functionality

Sakis are small-sized monkeys with long, bushy tails. Their furry, rough skin is black, grey or reddish-brown in color depending upon the species. The faces of some species are naked, but their head is hooded with fur. Their bodies are adapted to life in the trees, with strong hind legs allowing them to make far jumps. Sakis reach a length of 30 to 50 cm, with a tail just as long, and weigh up to 2 kg.

Habitat and habit

Sakis are diurnal animals. They live in the trees of the rain forests and only occasionally go onto the land. They mostly move on all fours, sometimes running in an upright position on the hind legs over the branches, and sometimes jumping long distances. For sleeping they roll themselves cat-like in the branches. They are generally very shy, cautious animals.

Diet

Sakis are frugivores. Their diet consists of over 90% fruit and is supplemented by a small proportion of leaves, flowers, and insects. Sakis, as well as uakaris, engage in a specialized form of frugivory in which they focus specifically on unripe fruits and seeds.

Procreation

Mating is non-seasonal, and can happen any time during the year. After approximately 150 to 180 day gestation, females bear single young. The young are weaned after 4 months, and are fully mature in 3 years. Their life expectancy is up to 30 years.

Classification

• Genus Pithecia
  • Equatorial saki, Pithecia aequatorialis (Hershkovitz, 1987)
  • White-footed saki or buffy saki, Pithecia albicans (Gray, 1860)
  • Cazuza's saki, Pithecia cazuzai Marsh, 2014
  • Golden-faced saki, Pithecia chrysocephala (I. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1850)
  • Hairy saki, Pithecia hirsuta (Spix, 1823)
  • Burnished saki, Pithecia inusta (Spix, 1823)
  • Rio Tapajós saki or Gray's bald-faced saki, Pithecia irrorata (Gray, 1842)
  • Isabel's saki, Pithecia isabela Marsh, 2014
  • Monk saki, Pithecia monachus (É. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1812)
  • Miller's saki, Pithecia milleri (J. A. Allen, 1914)
  • Mittermeier's Tapajós saki, Pithecia mittermeieri Marsh, 2014
  • Napo saki, Pithecia napensis (Lönnberg, 1938)
  • White-faced saki, Pithecia pithecia (Linnaeus, 1766)
  • Pissinatti’s bald-faced saki, Pithecia pissinattii Marsh, 2014
  • Rylands' bald-faced saki, Pithecia rylandsi Marsh, 2014
  • Vanzolini's bald-faced saki, Pithecia vanzolinii (Hershkovitz, 1987)

External links

• Primate Info Net Pithecia Factsheets