Andean Night Monkey

• Common Name: Andean Night Monkey
• Taxonomy Classification Year: 1927
• Monkey Size: 50 to 50 cm (20 to 20 inches)
• Skin Color(s): Gray, Orange
• Habitat: Andean cloud forests, Mountains
• Diet: Frugivorous
• Native Countries: Peru

Andean night monkeys^[1] are a genus Aotus, commonly known as nocturnal monkeys. Species in this genus are the only truly nocturnal monkeys in the world.

• At first glance, you might assume that an Andean night monkey is a prosimian, more at home in the Madagascan tropics than in the cloud forests of the Andes.
• However, the large eyes and small size of this Peruvian night monkey – traits seen in several prosimians – are evolutionary adaptations that allow them to exploit their nocturnal niche without being a primary target for the many nocturnal predators with which they share a common living space.
• ‘Aotus’ means ‘without ears’, which may seem wrong at first glance as its small ears are not immediately visible in the thick fur surrounding its head.
• Their round faces feature a striking black and white pattern framing their large brown eyes.
• Andean night monkeys’ tiny bodies are predominantly grey, with a large rust-orange patch occupying their entire abdomen and inner arms.
• Their long tails help them balance when climbing through the canopy, while the padded, claw-like toes help them grab branches.

• Andean night monkeys are not sexually dimorphic as males and females look very similar.
• The Peruvian night monkey is monogamous and, like other Aotus species, lives in small family groups of 2-6 individuals.
• The species is one of the lesser-known and possibly the rarest Neotropical primates. This species is classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN and Critically Endangered under Peruvian law^[2].
• They use scent glands in their necks and at the base of their tails to mark their surroundings and communicate with other squadmates.
• As their name suggests, Andean night monkeys are nocturnal, with their most active time at the beginning of the night.