White-faced Saki

About the White-faced Saki

The white-faced saki (Pithecia pithecia), is a species of New World saki monkey. The small bodied neotropical primate can be found in Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela. This species feeds mostly on fruits, nuts, seeds, and insects. Although it is an arboreal species and is a specialist of brachiation, it is also terrestrial when foraging. Typical life expectancy is around 14 years in its natural habitat, although individuals have been recorded to live up to 36 years in captivity. The white faced saki is active in the day and sleeps highly elevated (15–20 m (49–66 ft)) in trees with many leaves to shelter from weather and flying predators.

A formerly recognized subspecies, P. p. chrysocephala, was elevated to full species status as P. chrysocephala in 2014. Pairs of white-faced saki only breed once a year, but do not breed seasonally. Estimated typical breeding season is through August and September, but white-faced sakis have been observed breeding in March, April, and June. Breedings are typically not private and are sometimes even done with other group members watching. Regardless of when or how reproduction occurs, a... Wikipedia →