Lucifer’s Titi[1] (Cheracebus lucifer) is a species of Titi, a New World monkey endemic to South America. It is found in Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Brazil.
- This yellow-handed Titi was described as Callicebus lucifer in 1914. Lucifer’s Titi was previously treated as part of Cheracebus torquatus, the collared Titi.
- The small bodies of Lucifer titis are covered with a long, soft coat of dark reddish-brown fur. Their triangular faces are pink and illuminated by two beautiful, expressive brown eyes.
- Their nose is flat, and their nostrils are oblique. Its ears are covered in tick fur that surrounds its face. A band of creamy white fur extends from the base of the ears to the neck.
- When Lucifer’s titi monkeys were first recognized as a single species, scientists thought their orange hands were a distinguishing feature.
- Recent studies show that this is not necessarily the case. In fact, some Lucifer Titi monkeys have creamy white hands. In addition, its hands and feet have 5 digits with opposing fingers and thumbs.
- Its tail is dark brown or black at the base and ends in reddish tones at the tip.
- Unlike many New World Monkeys, titi monkeys’ tails are not prehensile, meaning they cannot use them to grasp or hold tree branches. Instead, they have strong thighs that allow them to jump between branches with great dexterity.
