The New World Monkeys

NEW WORLD PRIMATE TAG WORKSHOP Taxonomy of New World primates

Suborder Anthropoidea

Infraorder Platyrrhini

SuperFamily Ceboidea

Family Callitrichidae Atelidae

Aotus Leontopithecus Owl Monkeys Lion Tamarins Cebidae Callicebus Saguinus Titi Monkeys Tamarins Cebus Cacajao Capuchin Monkeys Uakaris Callithrix Marmosets Chiropotes Saimiri Bearded Sakis Cebuella Suirrel Monkeys Pygmy Marmosets Pithecia Sakis

Alouatta Howler Monkeys Callimico Goeldi’s Monkey Ateles Spider Monkeys

Brachyteles Woolly Spider Monkeys (Muriqui)

Lagothrix Woolly Monkeys Meet the atelid monkeys Distribution of Atelids

• Spider monkeys, howler monkeys and owl monkeys occur from Central America to S. America • Sakis, Bearded sakis, woolly monkeys, woolly spider monkeys (muriquis), uakaris, and Titi monkeys occur only in s. america

Habitat of Atelids

• Lowland tropical rainforest Physical characteristics

• Size/weight ranges from – Small 1.5-4 lbs: Owl monkeys, titis, sakis

– Medium 3-8 lbs: uakaris, bearded sakis, – Large 8-20 lbs: Muriquis, spider monkeys, woolly monkeys, Howlers Physical characteristics

• Variety of colors • Examples of sexual dichromatism Physical characteristics

• Tails are various lengths – Only the howlers, spiders, woolies, and muriuis have prehensile tails Physical characteristics

• Hands and feet are adapted to the habitat they utilize • Spider and woolly spider monkeys have long fingers for semi-brachiation and no thumb Physical characteristics

• Owl monkeys are the only nocturnal monkey • Eyes lack color cone cells and only have rod cells (which serve for twilight vision) • Do have a fovea (prosimians do not) suggesting that they adapted to nocturnal activity Physical characteristics

• Howler monkeys are known for their “long calls” in which they use the phyrangeal pouch at throat to amplify vocalzations. Diet of Atelids

• Frugivores E.g. spider monkeys • Omnivores e.g. sakis, uakaris titis,woollies • Folivores e.g. Howler monkeys Reproduction

• Few visual signs of estrus except in bearded sakis where perineum and labia become deep red • Gestation ranges from: >4 mo (owl) to <6 mo (Saki/titi) to >7 mo Spider/woolly/muriqui • Interbirth interval ranges from 9-14 mo (owl/titi/saki) to 3-4 yrs (spider/woolly/muriqui) Social organization Monogamous – family groups

• Titi, saki, Owl monkeys • Group sizes 2-8 and solitary animals seen • Parental care of infants by males of Titi and owl monkeys • Long call duets performed by male and female Social organization polygamous troops • Multi male-multi female troops are normal but in low numbers may find 1 male-several females – Uakaris (30-100), – bearded sakis (8-30) • Spiders, woollies, muriquis, howlers (20-100) demonstrate fission-fusion Meet the Cebids Capuchin and Squirrel Monkeys Characteristics

• Physically they share some characteristics with Atelid monkeys: – Have 36 teeth vs. 32 of Callitrichines – Capuchin has semi-prehensile tail • Squirrel monkey infants have slightly prehensile tail but not adults – Capuchin size and weight 3-8 lbs is similar to smaller Atelids

• Molecular DNA is more similar to Callitrichines than Atelids Squirrel Monkeys Characteristics • Squirrel monkeys live in troops of 50-200 but males are segregated from and subordinate to females except during breeding

• have a clearly defined breeding season

• During breeding season males undergo hormone induced physiological changes referred to as the “Fatted Male” condition Capuchin Monkeys Characteristics • Live in troops of 10-35 with a single dominant male

• Strict linear dominance with each sex

• Omnivorous including hunting birds, small and large lizards

• Documented to use tools, have “culture” and known as “intelligent” (some self-recognition in mirror test)

• Utilized as pets, “organ-grinder” monkeys, and for quadriplegics as “helping-hands”

• Very long lived in captivity >50 years Uestions?