Bald Uakari
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| Cacajao calvus (I. Geoffroy, 1847) |
The Bald Uakari (Cacajao calvus), also known as the Red Uakari or Bald-headed Uakari, is a distinctive red-faced monkey found in swampy forests in Brazil, Peru, and Colombia. The species is considered "near threatened" by the 2004 World Conservation Union (IUCN) Red List because of hunting and the destruction of its habitat. [1]
They have little fur on the face, with bright red facial skin a sign of good health, enabling them to choose the healthiest (most red-faced) to mate with. They have long, thick, white or red body fur with short, bushy tails. They are on average 55 cm long and weigh around 3,000 grams, with 15 cm tails. They usually live around 20 years.
Bald uakaris feed mainly on seeds and flowers, and some small animals.
They live in mixed groups of between five and 30 members, spending most of their time on the ground searching for seeds, and at night sleeping in trees for safety. The breeding season is between October and May. The female encourages the male to mate by releasing an attractive scent. The gestation period is unknown.
There are four recognized subspecies of the Bald Uakari:
- White Bald-headed Uakari, Cacajao calvus calvus
- Ucayali Bald-headed Uakari, Cacajao calvus ucayalii
- Red Bald-headed Uakari, Cacajao calvus rubicundus
- Novae's Bald-Headed Uakari, Cacajao calvus novaesi
[edit] References
- Rylands et al (2003). Cacajao calvus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is near threatened
- Groves, Colin (16 November 2005). Wilson, D. E., and Reeder, D. M. (eds): Mammal Species of the World, 3rd edition, Johns Hopkins University Press, 146-148. ISBN 0-801-88221-4.
- IUCN Red list, entry for the Bald Uakari, 2004, retrieved April 2, 1004
- Description and photographs, BBC, retrieved April 2, 2004
