Mammals · Primates · Pitheciidae

White-faced Saki

Pithecia pithecia

Least Concern

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

The white-faced saki is a small primate of north-eastern South America, with a long, dense coat that gives it a shaggy look and a thick, bushy tail that is not prehensile. It lives in small family groups in the middle storey of the forest. It is a seed specialist: with its canines and premolars it opens green, woody fruits that no other animal can use, which gives it access to a resource available when ripe fruit is scarce.

Weight

1.5 kg – 2.5 kg

Size

30 cm – 48 cm

Lifespan

20 years

Diet

Herbivore

Feeds mainly on plants.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

In pairs

Usually lives in pairs, sometimes for life.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

RainforestHerbivore Diurnal In pairs Rainforest Mammal

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Fun facts

It shows one of the most extreme colour dimorphisms of any primate: the male is black with a brilliant white face and the female greyish brown with a dark face, to the point that for a time they were described as different species.
It leaps with its hind legs between vertical trunks and can cover more than ten metres in a single bound, which has earned it the local nickname of flying monkey.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Middle storey of terra firme rainforest and white-sand forest in the Guianas
Sexual maturity: 2.1 years
Gestation / incubation: 5.2 months
Litter / clutch size: 1

Sources consulted: https://www.iucnredlist.org/ | https://animaldiversity.org/ | https://es.wikipedia.org/