Bald Uakari
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Bald Uakari[1] | ||||||||||||||||
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| Cacajao calvus (I. Geoffroy, 1847) |
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 Distribution of Bald Uakari.
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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.[2]
It has little fur on the face, with bright red facial skin a sign of good health, enabling it to choose the healthiest (most red-faced) to mate with. It has long, thick, white or red body fur with short, bushy tails. It is on average 55 cm long and weigh around 3,000 grams, with 15 cm tails. It usually lives around 20 years.
The Bald Uakari feeds mainly on seeds and flowers, and some small animals.
It lives in mixed groups of between five and 30 members, spending most of its 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,[1] each of which is considered vulnerable to extinction:
- 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
- ^ a b Groves, Colin (16 November 2005). in 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.
- ^ a b 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
[edit] External links
- ARKive - images and movies of the bald-headed uakari (Cacajao calvus)
- Description and photographs, BBC, retrieved April 2, 2004
