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Caquetá Titi Monkey
Photograph courtesy of Javier Garcia, Conservation International
A new species of monkey with a red, bushy beard (pictured) has been discovered in the Colombian section of the Amazon rain forest, conservationists announced today.
A scientist first glimpsed Callicebus caquetensis—a type of titi monkey—in the 1960s. But political strife in the southern Caquetá Province (see map) kept scientists away until 2008, when an expedition finally confirmed the bearded monkey as a new species. (See "New Monkey Species Found in Remote Amazon.")
The cat-size primate is "fascinating" because it mates for life, an unusual trait among monkeys, said expedition leader Thomas Defler, a primatologist at the National University of Colombia in Bogotá. Pairs are often spotted sitting on branches with their tails intertwined.
A typical Caquetá titi couple has a baby every year, and the father handles most of the infant's care, other than nursing, Defler noted. It's unknown why the dad does most of the work, but there's likely an evolutionary advantage, he said. (See more pictures of devoted animal dads.)
The discovery, funded by Conservation International's Primate Action Fund and Conservation International Colombia, was detailed online August 12 in the journal Primate Conservation.
—Christine Dell'Amore
Published August 12, 2010
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New Monkey on Shaky Ground
Photograph courtesy of Javier Garcia, Conservation International
The newfound Caquetá titi monkey is being forced to travel on the ground more often as Amazon rain forest habitat becomes more and more fragmented by expanding Colombian cattle country, Defler said. (See pictures of rain forest destruction.)
Increased ground travel may make the species more vulnerable to predators, such as margay cats and birds of prey, he said. (Related: "Jungle Cat Mimics Monkey to Lure Prey—A First.")
It's estimated that fewer than 250 Caquetá titi monkeys survive—which means the International Union for Conservation of Nature will likely classify the primate as critically endangered, he said.
Fortunately, Defler added, the monkey seems to tolerate living in secondary forests—areas that have regrown after being cut down for agriculture or development.
Published August 12, 2010
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Bright Eyed and Bushy Bearded
Photograph courtesy of Javier Garcia, Conservation International
The Caquetá titi monkey lives in groups of about four along rivers in Caquetá Province.
Like other fruit-eaters, the monkey has a crucial role in spreading plant seeds throughout the rain forest, Defler noted. (See pictures of other rain forest animals.)
Published August 12, 2010
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Titi Monkey Relatives
Illustration courtesy Stephen Nash, Conservation International
The Caquetá titi monkey (illustrated at top right) has different colorings and markings from related species (top left and bottom), including a gray-stippled tail and no white bar on the new species' forehead.
Such variations probably help monkeys discern their kin, Defler noted—as well as helping humans discover new species.
During their 2008 expedition, Defler and his team also relied on monkey calls to track the new species—titi monkeys have one of the most complex territorial calls in the animal kingdom, he said. (See "Monkeys Use 'Sentences,' Study Suggests.")
Published August 12, 2010
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