Satan monkey
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Satan monkey ( Chiropotes satanas ) or a closely related species |
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| Chiropotes satanas | ||||||||||||
| ( Hoffmannsegg , 1807) |
The satan monkey or black saki ( Chiropotes satanas ) is a species of primate from the group of the New World monkeys (Platyrrhini). The red-backed kaki , the brown-backed kaki and the Uta-Hick-Saki were previously considered subspecies of the Satan monkey, but today they are viewed as separate species.
features
Satan monkeys reach a head body length of 32 to 48 centimeters, the tail measures 37 to 46 centimeters. The weight is 2.6 to 3.2 kilograms, with the males being slightly heavier than the females. The fur is short and very dark, it is mostly black, it can only be dark brown on the shoulders and back. In adult animals, the head is characterized by the head of hair and the long beard on the throat, the face is also dark. The tail is long and very bushy, it cannot be used as a prehensile tail.
distribution and habitat
yellow - Satan monkey ,
red - white-nosed saki ,
violet - red-backed kaki ,
light blue - Guayana-red-backed kaki ,
green - uta-hick-saki .
Satan monkeys only live in northeastern Brazil , they inhabit a small area east of the mouth of the Rio Tocantins in the states of Pará and Maranhão . Their habitat are tropical rainforests .
Lifestyle and diet
Satan monkeys are diurnal tree dwellers that are mostly in the canopy region. They usually move on all fours through the branches and seldom jump; when foraging for food they sometimes only hang on their hind legs. The primates live in groups of up to 40 animals, which are made up of several adult males and females together with their offspring. These groups break up into smaller subgroups while they are foraging and come back together for sleep. The roaming areas are quite large and can cover up to 250 hectares. The animals communicate through a series of sounds, including chirping and high-pitched whistling tones.
Satan monkeys feed primarily on hard-shelled fruits and seeds. With their strong jaws, protruding incisors, and large canine teeth , they are well adapted to this food.
Reproduction
Little is known about the reproduction of these animals. After a gestation period of around five months, the female usually gives birth to a single young, most of the births are likely to occur in the beginning of the rainy season. In newborns, the tail is still developed as a prehensile tail, but at the age of two months it loses this ability.
Danger
The main threat to Satanic monkeys is the destruction of their habitat, with hunting to a lesser extent. Their distribution area is one of the most densely populated regions of northern Brazil, large areas of forest are being cleared. Its range has been greatly reduced and fragmented, according to estimates by the IUCN , the total population has declined by 80% in the last 30 years. For these reasons, the species is listed as " critically endangered " .
The species is no longer kept in Europe, former German keepers are Berlin and Cologne.
literature
- Thomas Geissmann : Comparative Primatology. Springer-Verlag, Berlin et al. 2003, ISBN 3-540-43645-6 .
- Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World. 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 1999, ISBN 0-8018-5789-9 .
- Don E. Wilson, DeeAnn M. Reeder (Eds.): Mammal Species of the World. A taxonomic and geographic Reference. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2005, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4 .
