<< Previous Next >>

Monk Saki Monkey


Monk Saki Monkey
Photo Information
Copyright: Selen Ediger (SelenE) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2405 W: 63 N: 4227] (13822)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-05-30
Categories: Mammals, Rain Forest
Camera: Canon EOS 40D, Canon EF 100-400mm F/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Monkeys of South America, RARE or SIGNIFICANT contributions to TN 4 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-11-14 2:12
Viewed: 1282
Points: 30
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Monk Saki
Pithecia monachus

Though the quality is not very good I wanted to share this monkey with you as it will be the first presentation of this species in TrekNature and also they are very difficult to view in the wild, due to shyness and a very high habitat.

Thanks for looking and have a nice weekend

*Geographic Range
Also known as Pithecia hirsuta, Pithecia monachus can be found in northwestern Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru (Nowak, 1999). Members of this species occur in the Colombian trapezius north of the Amazon, and extend from north of the Putumayo River to the southern bank of the Yari, Caqueta and Orinoco rivers. The range of Pithecia monachus is limited to the upper elevations of well-developed rain forests of these regions (Hernandez-Camacho and Cooper, 1976). (Hernandez-Camacho and Cooper, 1976; Nowak, 1999)

Habitat
Arboreal, high canopy dwellers. They are very nervous around humans and disturbance, thus very little data has surfaced on the lifestyle of P. monacha. However, scientists agree that the tallest trees available (from 10-35 meters tall) are the habitat of choice for these animals, and in most instances they are the sole primate inhabiting this niche. (Moynihan, 1976)


Physical Description
Sakis are characterized by their small size of 30-50 cm and very heavy, thick and nonprehensile tail which adds 25-55 cm to their body length (Nowak, 1999). The face of the monk saki is partly bald but bearded with a hood of curly black hair covering the forehead. The nostrils are laterally positioned on the face (Flannery 2004). Sakis are generally black, but their hands and feet are light in color.

The skull morphology is distinctive: the orbits are separated from the brain case by a frontal depression. The incisors are forward-facing, long canines are present and used to break the hard skin of fruits. They have quadritubercular molars with deep basins (Seth & Seth, 1986).

The hands are similar to those of Aloutta spp. in that they exhibit a split between the second and third digits (Moynihan, 1976). Each digit has a nail, and the front limbs are shaped for gripping branches after a leap. The hind legs are modified for fast and far leaping. Vision is stereoscopic for an arboreal habitat. (Flannery, 2004; Moynihan, 1976; Nowak, 1999; Seth and Seth, 1986)

Mass: 1 to 2 kg
(2.2 to 4.4 lbs)
Length: 30 to 50 cm
(11.81 to 19.69 in)

Reproduction
Adult, monogamous pairs breed for life.
Number of offspring: 1 (average)
Gestation period: 170 days (average)
Birth Mass: 120.67 g (average)
(4.25 oz)

Behavior
Territory Size: 0.33 to 0.50 km^2
All species of Pithecia are diurnal. The monk sakis are quadrupedal leapers. They are skittish and shy. Family groups are nuclear families consisting of a monogamous pair with its offspring. These families raise offspring in defended territories, similar to gibbons in the genus Hylobates. A peculiar behavior is observed at night when several families sleep in the same tree. The adults recognize their mate by highly specialized vocalizations; acoustic signals including squeaks, whistles and trills are used for low intensity aggression. Barks and grunts constitute a higher level of aggression, and finally, roars are the most extreme aggressive vocalizations. The monk sakis practice extensive allogrooming as a general social behavior which is nonsexual in orientation or motivation. (Hernandez-Camacho and Cooper, 1976; Moynihan, 1976)

Very little research has been done on Pithecia monacha, perhaps for two reasons: they do not survive well in captivity, and are very difficult to view in the wild, due to shyness and a very high habitat.

Source
maurydv, pekkavalo1, Maite, eng55, haraprasan, matatur, sranjan, eqshannon, Alex99, izler, boreocypriensis has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
None
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

Merhaba Selen,
congratulazioni per questa prima su TN, nonostante le varie difficoltà hai fatto una eccellente cattura, il collage mostra splendidamente le caratteristiche di questa strana e spettacolare scimmia.
TFS.
Maurizio

Hi Selen,
Very good presentation of this Monk Saki Monkey showing well how it moves around its natural habitat. Sometimes one still picture does not give fair impression of a wild creature. Very good result in hard conditions.
TFS
Cheers
Pekka

  • Great 
  • Maite Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1007 W: 64 N: 1266] (5195)
  • [2008-11-14 2:52]

Hello Selen
This is fantastic! A new species for us lovers of animals and Nature photography! I had never seen this strange and curious monkey and I am delighted with this presentation. To capture a creature at a distance and against the sky... you know it will be dark, but you did a great job here for us to see the details.
Congratulations and thank you very much for sharing.
Best regards
Maite

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1147 W: 32 N: 1170] (3600)
  • [2008-11-14 3:01]

Merhaba Selen Hanım,
Çok eneteresan bir maymun,ilk defa görüyorum.Detaylar,yüzdeki ifade ve presentasyonu
çok beğendim.
Selamlar,ellerinize sağlık!

Hi Selen,
A nice capture of this beautiful monkey. Very well composed with sharp details. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Hello Selen,
These are very difficult animals to capture, even in captivity let alone in the wild.
I have a few in my gallery, I captured a few years ago. Photographed in captivity though...
TFS a wild one:-)
Annick

A rare sight I'm sure Selen, and perfect captures, all three of them. I'm quite astonished by the sight of that tail, not like that of the usual monkey and wonder whether it is used purely for balance or does it also have a prehensile function... TFS these rare images my friend.
Mehmet

Dear Selen,
Excellent POV for Monk Saki from down below with details including photographer's note. TFS.
Regards-Subhash

Kewl...It looks like s drunk lady threw her fur coat up in the trees..:-) I say that with tongue in cheek humour and 3 beers in my system....but I think it is a pretty important picture and now I have only short time to write..So suffice it to say....Wow! Michael Stipe, a friend, loves to say that...he even puts it in his REM lyrics...but I digress..
bob

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3585 W: 143 N: 5672] (18539)
  • [2008-11-14 22:20]

Hi Selen.
It really is rare pictures. I have never seen these attractive animals anywhere before. Excellent sharp images with superb exposure and nice reproduction of all details despite the contrast subject. Perfect job and best regards. TFS.
Alexei.

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2001 W: 226 N: 6845] (24727)
  • [2008-11-15 12:59]

Hi Selen,
an excellent trio of shots showing this rare monkey really clearly.
Superb POVs.
Well composed.
Congrats on posting the first of this species on TN! :-))

Well done,
Joe

Very interesting animal.
Your in tree catch is good Selen.
Weird animal.
Lovely
Have a nice week

  • Great 
  • izler Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 1399 W: 3 N: 30] (504)
  • [2008-11-16 4:39]

merhaba selen hanım
ne güzel ve ilginç bir tür böyle
bir kaç açıdan kendisini ve davranışını bizlere gösteren nefis bir kolaj sunmuşsunuz
ellerinize sağlık
selamlar
izler

Selam Selen hanım, ilginç bir maymun türü. ilk bakışta tembel hayvan aklıma geldi. Hareketlerini izlemek harika olmalı. Elinize sağlık.
Teşekkürler.

Bayram

Hello Selen

Congratulations on this TN first.
The view is very good and the details show well.
You have provided 3 excellent angles,I have never seen this species of monkey before.
You were lucky to have had this encounter.
TFS
Wolf

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF