The bearded sakis[1] or cuxiús are five species of New World Monkeys classified in the genus Chiropotes.
- They live in South America’s central and eastern Amazon and range as far south as Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and northern and central Brazil.
- Bearded sakis have a unique appearance. Their most distinctive features are their beard and hair.
- The hair on the crown of the head, called the “coronal tufts“, is puffy and round, often forming two distinct spheres.
- This hair pattern is so prominent that some people appear to have two black tennis balls on their heads, like a helmet.
- Their beard only adds to this effect as it is also very round and bulbous. In addition, their head and face are black, and their nose is very flat.
- As in other primates, their eyes are located in the front of the face, allowing binocular vision.
- Their arms and legs are long, flexible, and black. Their tail is covered in long black hairs, giving them an almost fox-like shape.
- The hair on the shoulders and upper back are usually longer than the rest of the body, giving them the appearance of a coat.
- Their backs are a rusty orange, a prominent distinguishing feature from other species in their genus.
- Bearded saki shows slight sexual dimorphism: males are usually taller and have longer, more prominent beards than females.
