Monk Saki Monkey

Monk Saki Monkey

The odd-looking Monk Saki is one of about half a dozen similar large monkeys in the Amazon. The Monk Saki's peculiar hair-do accounts for its common name. They quietly roam around the middle canopy in small groups, looking for fruits, seeds and leaves.

Monk saki monkeys are closely related to the bearded sakis.

The Sakis' range includes northern and central South America, extending from the south of Colombia over Peru in northern Bolivia and into the central part of Brazil.

The Monk Saki is a smaller monkey with a long, bushy tail. It has furry, rough skin that can be black, grey or reddish-brown depending upon the species.

The faces of some species are naked, but their head is hooded with fur, hence the name of Monk, because of the hoods used by monks.

Adapted to life in the trees, the Monk Saki has strong hind legs allowing it to make far jumps. Sakis reach a length of between 11 and 20 inches, with a tail just as long. They can weigh up to 4 i/2 pounds.

Sakis live in the trees of the rain forests and only occasionally go onto the land. They mostly move on all fours, sometimes running in an upright position on the hind legs over the branches, and sometimes jumping long distances. For sleeping they roll themselves cat-like in the branches.

Generally they are very shy, cautious animals.

Sakis live in family federations, consisting of the parents and their offspring. Mated pairs usually form lifelong pair bonds.

Sakis are territorial animals, defending their territory in relation to other families. Sakis are omnivores. They eat fruits, leaves, flowers, insects, and small vertebrates, such as rodents and bats.

So experts believe that certain saki species were hunted almost to extinction in the 1990s, but that with conservation efforts in the Amazon basin that several of the Saki species are returning in numbers.

More in the next edition.