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 Colombia (, ; ), officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country in South America with insular regions in North America—near Nicaragua's Caribbean coast—as well as in the Pacific Ocean. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Car ...

, over Peru, in northern

Bolivia , image_flag = Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg , flag_alt = Horizontal tricolor (red, yellow, and green from top to bottom) with the coat of arms of Bolivia in the center , flag_alt2 = 7 × 7 square p ...

. 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. Sakis allow adult offspring and non-related immigrants into their groups unlike titi or owl monkeys. Saki monkeys have been commonly considered to be

socially monogamous Monogamy ( ) is a form of dyadic relationship in which an individual has only one partner during their lifetime. Alternately, only one partner at any one time (serial monogamy) — as compared to the various forms of non-monogamy (e.g., polyga ...

, but generally only sakis who are pair-living exhibit social monogamy. Females primarily carry infants and male-infant interactions are rare.

Diet

Sakis are

frugivore A frugivore is an animal that thrives mostly on raw fruits or succulent fruit-like produce of plants such as roots, shoots, nuts and seeds. Approximately 20% of mammalian herbivores eat fruit. Frugivores are highly dependent on the abundance an ...

s. 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 The equatorial saki (''Pithecia aequatorialis''), also called the red-bearded saki, is a species of saki monkey, a type of New World monkey. It is found in northeastern Peru and Ecuador. Not much is known about the equatorial saki, its range bei ...

, ''Pithecia aequatorialis'' ** White-footed saki or buffy saki, ''Pithecia albicans'' ** Cazuza's saki, ''Pithecia cazuzai'' ** Golden-faced saki, ''Pithecia chrysocephala'' ** Hairy saki, ''Pithecia hirsuta'' **

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 ...

, ''Pithecia inusta'' **

Rio Tapajós saki The Rio Tapajós saki or Gray's bald-faced saki (''Pithecia irrorata'') is a species of saki monkey, a type of New World monkey, from South America. It is found in parts of western Brazil, southeastern Colombia, southeastern Peru and possibly nor ...

or Gray's bald-faced saki, ''Pithecia irrorata'' **

Isabel's saki Isabel's saki (''Pithecia isabela'') is a species of saki monkey, a type of New World monkey. It is endemic to a small portion of northern Peru. Taxonomy Populations in this species were formerly classified within the monk saki (''P. monachus'' ...

, ''Pithecia isabela'' ** Monk saki, ''Pithecia monachus'' ** Miller's saki, ''Pithecia milleri'' ** Mittermeier's Tapajós saki, ''Pithecia mittermeieri'' (disputed) **

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 ...

, ''Pithecia napensis'' ** Pissinatti’s saki, ''Pithecia pissinattii'' (disputed) **

White-faced saki The white-faced saki (''Pithecia pithecia''), called the Guianan saki and the golden-faced saki, is a species of the New World saki monkey. They can be found in Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname and Venezuela. This species lives in the und ...

, ''Pithecia pithecia'' **

Rylands' bald-faced saki Rylands' bald-faced saki (''Pithecia rylandsi'') is a disputed species of saki monkey, a type of New World monkey. It is found in Bolivia, Peru, and Brazil. Taxonomy Populations in this species were formerly classified within the Rio Tapajós ...

, ''Pithecia rylandsi'' (disputed) **

Vanzolini's bald-faced saki Vanzolini's bald-faced saki (''Pithecia vanzolinii'') is a species of saki monkey, a type of New World monkey. Its range is in western Brazil. The monkey is named after Brazilian zoologist Paulo Vanzolini. This species was originally described by ...

, ''Pithecia vanzolinii''

References

External links

Primate Info Net ''Pithecia'' Factsheets
{{Taxonbar, from=Q841159 Primates of South America Mammals described in 1804