Guianan Saki Monkey
Pithecia pithecia
Makushi name: Ariki
Creole name: White-faced Monkey
Size: body= 40 cm; tail= 40 cm; weight= 2 kg
Description: Medium-sized and long-haired, including bushy, nonprehensile tail. Sexes distinct. Male entirely black, except for sharply contrasting short, pale hair encircling face, standing out from the black nose, mouth, and piercing dark eyes. Female grizzled grey; forehead and face slightly paler with a vertical, orangish-white stripe on either side of the face from cheek to chin; throat and belly sparsely haired and orangish-tan.
Activity: Diurnal, arboreal. Usually seen in the subcanopy or lower.
Habits: Social, usually in groups of one to four individuals, often seen in male-female pairs. Leaps from tree to tree, often hopping on its hind feet. This quiet, shy monkey feeds on a variety of fruits, seeds, leaves, and insects. Usually quiet but will make a variety of whistles and grunts. May sit silently or quickly spring away when approached closely.
Habitat: Most common in primary forest, but also occurs in disturbed areas.
Status: Often common in Iwokrama. It is listed on CITES, Appendix II.
Distribution in Iwokrama