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White-faced Saki
Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House
Did You Know?
- White-faced sakis are completely arboreal and spend most of their life in the trees; they almost never come to the ground, although they may forage from lower branches. They live up to 2,460 feet above sea level.
- These small monkeys have been known to leap 33 feet in a single bound, which is helpful for escaping predators.
- Males and females duet with one another, an act that helps to strengthen their bounds while maintaining the boundaries of their territory.
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Why aren’t animals visible at all times? To promote positive animal welfare, we provide animals with choices. They can choose to spend time in areas that are out of public view.
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Overview
Scientific Name: Pithecia pithecia
Class: Mammals
Diet: Fruit (also seeds, nuts, leaves, insects, soil, and minerals)
Range: Northern South America
Endangered Status: Least Concern
More Information
White-faced sakis are small New World monkeys named for the males’ white or reddish head. The rest of their body is black. Females are mostly brown or grayish-brown with bright white to pale red stripes that extend from the eyes to the corners of their mouth. They are 12-16 inches in length and weigh 5 pounds.
They live in monogamous pairs or family groups, which may come together to form larger groups. They have one infant at a time after a five-month gestation. Mothers carry their young around for the first month.
