Animalia | Primates | Pitheciidae | Pithecia | Pithecia inusta |
- Common Name: Burnished Saki
- Taxonomy Classification Year: 1823
- Monkey Size: 30 to 50 cm (12 to 20 in)
- Skin Color(s): Burnt tan
- Habitat: Rainforest
- Diet: Omnivorous
- Native Countries: Peru, Brazil
Burnished Saki Distribution
Burnished Saki Characteristics
The Burnished saki[1] is a species of saki monkey, a species of New World Monkey. It is located in central Peru and a small part of adjacent Brazil.
- Always needing a haircut, the Burnished saki is a small primate with a dark, woolly coat.
- Their partially bald face is surrounded by a thick fringed hairstyle reminiscent of their moniker, a monk.
- Adult individuals have their faces covered with burnt light brown fur.
- It is distinguished from Pythecia monachus by the facial coloration of the juveniles; juvenile males have densely flattened white hairs, and females have gray-black or tan rosts that fade to white, as opposed to the bicolored brown-white rosts of Pythecia monachus.
- Their short hind limbs are designed for fast long-distance jumps, perfect for life in trees. The tail of a Burnished saki is as thick and hairy as the rest of the body.
- These South American primates’ tails are not prehensile and often sink into the edges of branches like a particularly dirty feather duster.
Burnished Saki Facts
- The species was described by Johann Baptist von Spix in 1823 but was later merged with the monk saki (Pythecia monachus). However, a 2014 study revived it as a separate species based on differences in the fur coloration of juvenile individuals.
- These Peruvian monkeys are shy and cautious animals entirely arboreal, high up in trees and often descending to lower levels but not to the ground.
- Usually moves on all fours but can often walk upright on a large branch and jump over gaps.
- The female gives birth to one young per breeding season, with an average family size of 4.5.
- This species is believed to be threatened by deforestation and poaching; therefore, its population is in decline.
Suggested Reading: Monkey Species
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BioExplorer.net. (2024, December 26). Burnished Saki. Bio Explorer. https://www.bioexplorer.net/animals/mammals/monkeys/burnished-saki/.
BioExplorer.net. "Burnished Saki" Bio Explorer, 26 December 2024, https://www.bioexplorer.net/animals/mammals/monkeys/burnished-saki/.
BioExplorer.net. "Burnished Saki" Bio Explorer, December 26 2024. https://www.bioexplorer.net/animals/mammals/monkeys/burnished-saki/.