Mammals · Primates · Aotidae

Northern Night Monkey

Aotus trivirgatus

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

It is the only truly nocturnal simian — the group that covers monkeys and apes — an exceptional trait that sets it apart from all its close relatives. Unlike most primates, it is the male that does almost all the carrying of the young.

Weight

800 g – 1 kg

Size

24 cm – 47 cm

Lifespan

13 years

Diet

Omnivore

Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Social structure

In pairs

Usually lives in pairs, sometimes for life.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

RainforestOmnivore Nocturnal In pairs Rainforest Mammal

13countries 20parks

Fun facts

It is the only truly nocturnal simian — monkey or ape — in the world.
It is the male, not the mother, who carries the infant for most of its first four months.
It forms stable monogamous pairs in the forests of northern South America.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Rainforest, cloud forest and gallery forest of northern South America and Panama, from sea level to 1,000 m
Birth weight: 88.5 grams
Size at birth: Large and precocial relative to its parents, fully furred at birth
Sexual maturity: Female: ~2.2 years | Male: 2 years
Gestation / incubation: 133-142 days (~4.5 months)
Litter / clutch size: 1 young (twins rare)
Lifespan in captivity: Documented record of up to 30.1 years in captivity