WHITE (PALE)-FACED SAKI MONKEY
Pithecia pithecia

Sakis are found north of the Amazon and east of Rio's Negro; also in the Orion Basin.

The forest for the trees: Both lowlands and Montane forests.

Darling buds: They eat fruits and seeds and some buds and vegetation.

Watch the tail: Males have a distinctly white face. Although the female may show white markings about her face, she is definitely not "white-faced." Males are slightly larger than females. Sakis are basically tree dwelling, like most capuchin-type monkeys, with a non-prehensile, bushy tail.

Watch those choppers, too: The lower front teeth of sakis form pseudodental combs, specialized for opening nuts and tough fruits in order to obtain the large nutritious seeds hidden within. This allows the monkey to eat unripe fruit not palatable to most primates.

Size isn't everything: Sakis are the smallest of their genera, weighing under 3kg. They are also the most versatile, with the ability to survive in a variety of habitats.

Sakis are not swingers: Monogamous pairing is thought to be usual but, in some situations, several females may only mate with a single dominant male. Gestation is 163 - 177 days - some variation may be noted depending on the rain forest altitude.

Longevity: Sakis have an average life span of 15 years in the wild, though sakis have lived up to 35 years in captivity.

Want to hang out?: These monkeys usually group in pairs or small families. Young will cling to the belly of the mother when first born, which is unusual for a new world primate. They will, however, eventually shift to the mother's back. If food becomes scarce, some fighting may be noted. Availability of food may determine group size.

Status: As with most tropical forest dwellers, deforestation poses current, major threat.

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