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Chiropotes albinasuswhite-nosed bearded saki

By Travis Huff

Geographic Range

Chiropotes albinasus, the White-nosed Saki, is a primate found in Brazil, south of the Amazon river and between the Xingu and Madeira rivers. (Flannery, 2000; Grzimek, 1977)

Habitat

White-nosed Sakis are often found in high forests, flooded forests and far from rivers mainly at the "crown' level of trees. Often sakis are found in dense and moist rainforests. Sakis never use the same sleeping tree for two consecutive nights. (Grizmek 1988; Flannery 2000; Grizmek 1977)

Physical Description

White-nosed Saki males weigh, on average, 3.1 kg (6.8 lbs), and females weigh 2.5 kg (5.5 lbs). Males are about 42 cm (17 in.) in total length, and females are 38 cm (15 in.) in total length. They have a dark, black coat and a red nose and upper lip which are both covered in white fur. White-nosed Sakis have a long, bushy tail, which they use for balance. (Flannery, 2000; Grzimek, 1977; Nowak, 1991)

  • Sexual Dimorphism
  • male larger
  • Range mass
    2 to 3 kg
    4.41 to 6.61 lb

Reproduction

White-nosed Sakis achieve sexual maturity at about the age of four. When in estrus a females' labia changes to bright red, and they walk with their tail raised so that males recognize their condition. White-nosed Sakis give birth to only one young per year. The majority of births occur between February and March and between August and September. Gestation period is about five months. At the age of three months young sakis begin to become more independent from their mothers. (Grzimek 1988; Nowak 1991; Flannery 2000)

  • Breeding interval
    White-nosed sakis breed once per year.
  • Average number of offspring
    1
  • Average number of offspring
    1
    AnAge
  • Average gestation period
    5 months
  • Average gestation period
    160 days
    AnAge
  • Range time to independence
    3 (low) months
  • Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female)
    4 years
  • Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female)
    Sex: female
    1460 days
    AnAge
  • Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male)
    4 years

Lifespan/Longevity

Behavior

White-nosed Sakis are often found in large social groups of 18 to 30 individuals. Their main reason for travelling is to search for food. Grooming occurs among members of the social groups. White-nosed Sakis use tail wagging and pilo-erection, which is where an individual's hair stands straight up, to communicate. White-nosed Sakis also communicate vocally using chirping and high-pitched whistles. (Nowak 1991; Grizmek 1988; Flannery 2000)

Communication and Perception

Food Habits

The daily diet of White-nosed Sakis is composed primarily of fruit, nuts, and insects. Daily diets vary from area to area and from season to season depending on the availability of different foods. White-nosed Sakis have well-developed teeth to crack nuts for food. They eat rapidly and, as they eat, they are on the lookout for more food. (Grzimek 1977; Nowak 1991; Flannery 2000)

  • Animal Foods
  • insects
  • Plant Foods
  • seeds, grains, and nuts
  • fruit

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

White-nosed Sakis may be hunted for food in some areas.

Economic Importance for Humans: Negative

There are no negative effects of White-nosed Sakis.

Conservation Status

White-nosed Sakis are an endangered species due to the destruction of their habitat.

(Grizmek 1988)

Contributors

Travis Huff (author), Fresno City College, Carl Johansson (editor), Fresno City College.

Glossary

Neotropical

living in the southern part of the New World. In other words, Central and South America.

World Map

bilateral symmetry

having body symmetry such that the animal can be divided in one plane into two mirror-image halves. Animals with bilateral symmetry have dorsal and ventral sides, as well as anterior and posterior ends. Synapomorphy of the Bilateria.

chemical

uses smells or other chemicals to communicate

endothermic

animals that use metabolically generated heat to regulate body temperature independently of ambient temperature. Endothermy is a synapomorphy of the Mammalia, although it may have arisen in a (now extinct) synapsid ancestor; the fossil record does not distinguish these possibilities. Convergent in birds.

forest

forest biomes are dominated by trees, otherwise forest biomes can vary widely in amount of precipitation and seasonality.

iteroparous

offspring are produced in more than one group (litters, clutches, etc.) and across multiple seasons (or other periods hospitable to reproduction). Iteroparous animals must, by definition, survive over multiple seasons (or periodic condition changes).

motile

having the capacity to move from one place to another.

native range

the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.

omnivore

an animal that mainly eats all kinds of things, including plants and animals

rainforest

rainforests, both temperate and tropical, are dominated by trees often forming a closed canopy with little light reaching the ground. Epiphytes and climbing plants are also abundant. Precipitation is typically not limiting, but may be somewhat seasonal.

seasonal breeding

breeding is confined to a particular season

sexual

reproduction that includes combining the genetic contribution of two individuals, a male and a female

social

associates with others of its species; forms social groups.

tactile

uses touch to communicate

viviparous

reproduction in which fertilization and development take place within the female body and the developing embryo derives nourishment from the female.

References

Flannery, S. 2000. "Primate Info Net" (On-line). Accessed February 12, 2001 at http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/factsheets/chiropotes_albinasus.html.

Grzimek, D. 1977. Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia Volume 10. New York pg.325,333,336: Van Nostrand Reinhold Company.

Grzimek, D. 1988. Grzimek's Encyclopedia "Mammals" Volume 2. New York, pg.139, 172: McGraw-Hill Publishing Company.

Nowak, R. 1991. Walker's Mammals of the World Fifth Edition, Volume 1. Baltimore and London pg. 453-457: The Johns Hopkins University Press.

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