White-eared Titi
Encyclopedia
The white-eared titi, Callicebus donacophilus, also known as the Bolivian titi or Bolivian gray titi, is a species of titi
, a type of New World monkey
, from eastern Bolivia
and a small area of Brazil
. The species has a range that extends east from the Manique River in Beni Department
, Bolivia to southern Rondônia
in Brazil. Its southern range includes forests around the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra
.
It is a medium-sized monkey with a grey back, orange underside and distinctive white ear tufts. It has an omnivorous
diet, eating fruits, other plant materials and invertebrates. It is predated upon primarily by raptors, though felid
s and other monkey species have been known to attack the species. It is a monogamous
species and lives in small groups of two to seven individuals consisting of the pair and their offspring. The species maintains a home range
of 1.5 to 3 km (0.93205910497471 to 1.9 mi) and has a complex vocal repertoire to maintain their territory. It is also known for its characteristic entwining of tails when groups are sitting together. White-eared titis live for more than 25 years.
The white-eared titi population has a declining trend. The decline is believed to be caused by human-induced habitat loss
and degradation, hunting, and capture to be kept as pets. In 2008, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classified the species as Least Concern.
, which contains the titis, saki monkey
s, bearded saki
s and uakari
s. It is a member of the subfamily Callicebinae, of which the only extant genus is Callicebus, containing all of the titi monkeys.
Although the exact position of species within the Callicebus genus is debated, the white-eared titi has been placed within the subgenus Callicebus in the C. donacophilus group with the Rio Beni titi
, Rio Mayo titi
, Ollala Brothers' titi
, and white-coated titi
. The white-coated titi (C. pallescens) has sometimes been considered a subspecies
of the white-eared titi, but they are treated as separate species in the latest edition of Mammal Species of the World
.
; the male's head and body length averages 311 millimetres (12.2 in) while females average 340 millimetres (13.4 in). The white-eared titi's tail is longer than the head and body combined. It typically has thick fur, with body and limbs that range from grey agouti to orange agouti with an orange underside and white ear tufts.
Body weight is variable, ranging from around 800 to 1200 g (1.8 to 2.6 lb), with the female generally a little lighter. It has been known to live to 25 years old.
, diurnal and known to live in small family groups. It is a monogamous
species that is thought to mate for life and lives in groups of 2 to 7 individuals consisting of a pair of adults and their offspring. Multi-male groups have also been recorded. Between the ages of two to four years, offspring will disperse from the natal group, with females dispersing earlier than the males.
There is a strong bond between the adult monogamous pair, they stay close and carry out activities together. The pair will often huddle, intertwine tails, groom each other and hold hands. They have also been seen to foot grasp, lip-smack, nuzzle, gently grasp one another and sit pressed together. When confronted with a strangers the will respond agonistically together. When separated, the pair show a significant amount of distress and agitation.
Titi
The titis, or titi monkeys, are the New World monkeys of the genus Callicebus. They are the only extant members of the Callicebinae subfamily, which also contains the extinct genera Xenothrix, Antillothrix, Paralouatta, Carlocebus, Homunculus, Lagonimico and possibly also Tremacebus.Titis live in...
, a type of New World monkey
New World monkey
New World monkeys are the five families of primates that are found in Central and South America: Callitrichidae, Cebidae, Aotidae, Pitheciidae, and Atelidae. The five families are ranked together as the Platyrrhini parvorder and the Ceboidea superfamily, which are essentially synonymous since...
, from eastern Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
and a small area of Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. The species has a range that extends east from the Manique River in Beni Department
Beni Department
Beni, sometimes El Beni, is a northeastern department of Bolivia, in the lowlands region of the country. It is the second largest department in the country , covering 213,564 square kilometers , and it was created by supreme decree on November 18, 1842 during the administration of General José...
, Bolivia to southern Rondônia
Rondônia
Rondônia is a state in Brazil, located in the north-western part of the country. To the west is a short border with the state of Acre, to the north is the state of Amazonas, in the east is Mato Grosso, and in the south is Bolivia. Its capital is Porto Velho. The state was named after Candido Rondon...
in Brazil. Its southern range includes forests around the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Santa Cruz de la Sierra, commonly known as Santa Cruz, is the capital of the Santa Cruz department in eastern Bolivia and the largest city in the country...
.
It is a medium-sized monkey with a grey back, orange underside and distinctive white ear tufts. It has an omnivorous
Omnivore
Omnivores are species that eat both plants and animals as their primary food source...
diet, eating fruits, other plant materials and invertebrates. It is predated upon primarily by raptors, though felid
Felidae
Felidae is the biological family of the cats; a member of this family is called a felid. Felids are the strictest carnivores of the thirteen terrestrial families in the order Carnivora, although the three families of marine mammals comprising the superfamily pinnipedia are as carnivorous as the...
s and other monkey species have been known to attack the species. It is a monogamous
Monogamy
Monogamy /Gr. μονός+γάμος - one+marriage/ a form of marriage in which an individual has only one spouse at any one time. In current usage monogamy often refers to having one sexual partner irrespective of marriage or reproduction...
species and lives in small groups of two to seven individuals consisting of the pair and their offspring. The species maintains a home range
Home range
Home range is the area where an animal lives and travels in. It is closely related to, but not identical with, the concept of "territory".The concept that can be traced back to a publication in 1943 by W. H. Burt, who constructed maps delineating the spatial extent or outside boundary of an...
of 1.5 to 3 km (0.93205910497471 to 1.9 mi) and has a complex vocal repertoire to maintain their territory. It is also known for its characteristic entwining of tails when groups are sitting together. White-eared titis live for more than 25 years.
The white-eared titi population has a declining trend. The decline is believed to be caused by human-induced habitat loss
Habitat destruction
Habitat destruction is the process in which natural habitat is rendered functionally unable to support the species present. In this process, the organisms that previously used the site are displaced or destroyed, reducing biodiversity. Habitat destruction by human activity mainly for the purpose of...
and degradation, hunting, and capture to be kept as pets. In 2008, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classified the species as Least Concern.
Taxonomy
The white-eared titi belongs to the New World monkey family PitheciidaePitheciidae
The Pitheciidae are one of the five families of New World monkeys now recognised. Formerly they were included in the family Atelidae. The family includes the titis, saki monkeys and uakaris...
, which contains the titis, saki monkey
Saki monkey
Sakis, or saki monkeys, are any of several New World monkeys of the genus Pithecia. They are closely related to the bearded sakis of genus Chiropotes.-Range:...
s, bearded saki
Bearded saki
The bearded sakis are five species of New World monkeys, classified in the genus Chiropotes. They live in the eastern and central Amazon in South America, ranging through southern Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana and northern and central Brazil...
s and uakari
Uakari
Uakari is the common name for the New World monkeys of the genus Cacajao. Both the English and scientific names are believed to have originated from indigenous languages....
s. It is a member of the subfamily Callicebinae, of which the only extant genus is Callicebus, containing all of the titi monkeys.
Although the exact position of species within the Callicebus genus is debated, the white-eared titi has been placed within the subgenus Callicebus in the C. donacophilus group with the Rio Beni titi
Rio Beni Titi
Rio Beni titi, Callicebus modestus, is a species of titi, a type of New World monkey, endemic to Bolivia.-References:...
, Rio Mayo titi
Rio Mayo Titi
The Rio Mayo titi, Callicebus oenanthe, is a species of titi, a type of New World monkey, endemic to Peru.-References:...
, Ollala Brothers' titi
Ollala Brothers' Titi
The Ollala Brothers' titi, Callicebus olallae, is a species of titi, a type of New World monkey, endemic to Bolivia.-References:...
, and white-coated titi
White-coated Titi
The white-coated titi, Callicebus pallescens, is a species of titi, a type of New World monkey, from South America. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay.-External links:*...
. The white-coated titi (C. pallescens) has sometimes been considered a subspecies
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
of the white-eared titi, but they are treated as separate species in the latest edition of Mammal Species of the World
Mammal Species of the World
Mammal Species of the World, now in its 3rd edition, is a standard reference work in zoology giving descriptions and bibliographic data for the known species of mammals.An updated Third Edition of Mammal Species of the World was published late in 2005:...
.
Anatomy and physiology
The white-eared titi is a medium-sized primate with grey to orange pelage. The species does not exhibit sexual dimorphismSexual dimorphism
Sexual dimorphism is a phenotypic difference between males and females of the same species. Examples of such differences include differences in morphology, ornamentation, and behavior.-Examples:-Ornamentation / coloration:...
; the male's head and body length averages 311 millimetres (12.2 in) while females average 340 millimetres (13.4 in). The white-eared titi's tail is longer than the head and body combined. It typically has thick fur, with body and limbs that range from grey agouti to orange agouti with an orange underside and white ear tufts.
Locomotion
The white-eared titi is arboreal, spending most of its time in the lower levels of the forest. It often leaps small distances between trees due to the discontinuous nature of the lower levels; these leaps are not more than several body lengths. The titi monkey is also known to enter the main canopy and may travel along the ground, though the later is rare. When travelling on the ground it is said to use a "bounding movement" whereby it leaps more than 1 metres (3.3 ft) off the ground. During normal movement through its environment it walks, clambers and leaps, it also bounds and climbs. The titi monkey prefers branches which are less than 5 centimetres (2 in) in diametre and its tail never touches the support they are on.Social structure
The white-eared titi is crypticCrypsis
In ecology, crypsis is the ability of an organism to avoid observation or detection by other organisms. It may be either a predation strategy or an antipredator adaptation, and methods include camouflage, nocturnality, subterranean lifestyle, transparency, and mimicry...
, diurnal and known to live in small family groups. It is a monogamous
Monogamy
Monogamy /Gr. μονός+γάμος - one+marriage/ a form of marriage in which an individual has only one spouse at any one time. In current usage monogamy often refers to having one sexual partner irrespective of marriage or reproduction...
species that is thought to mate for life and lives in groups of 2 to 7 individuals consisting of a pair of adults and their offspring. Multi-male groups have also been recorded. Between the ages of two to four years, offspring will disperse from the natal group, with females dispersing earlier than the males.
There is a strong bond between the adult monogamous pair, they stay close and carry out activities together. The pair will often huddle, intertwine tails, groom each other and hold hands. They have also been seen to foot grasp, lip-smack, nuzzle, gently grasp one another and sit pressed together. When confronted with a strangers the will respond agonistically together. When separated, the pair show a significant amount of distress and agitation.