Overview
Distribution
Range Description
A. azarae azarae occurs in the southern and western Chaco region of Paraguay (excluding the the extreme west, where no primates occur), west of the Rio Paraguai, and extending across the Río Pilcomayo to south of the Río Bermejo to the Rio Negro in the provinces of Formosa and Chaco in Argentina (Rathbun and Gache 1980; Hershkovitz 1983; Stallings 1985, 1989; Zunino et al. 1986; Stallings et al. 1989). In the west, its range extends to the Cordillera Oriental, but its range in the north is not clearly delimited. Following Hershkovitz (1983), it would seem to extend to the Bañado do Izozog in Bolivia.
Aotus azarae boliviensis occurs south of the Río Madre de Dios, as far west as the Río Inambari in Peru (Aquino and Encarnación 1994a), extending along the Cordillera Oriental in Bolivia to southern Bolivia where it meets the range of A. azarae azarae in the region of the Bañado de Izozog. To east it occurs as far as the Rio Guaporé and the border with Brazil. It is not known if it occurs in Brazil in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul.
Aotus azarae infulatus occurs in at least a small section of the southern Amapá (Carmo de Macacoari, municipality of Itaubal) and on the Islands of Marajó and Caviana (Hill 1960; Fernandes 1993; Silva et al. 1995) possibly Gurupá and Mexiana. From there it occurs the south of the Rio Amazonas, west to the Rios Tapajós and Juruena, in the south along the right banks of the Guaporé, to the east of the Rio Corixá Grande, as far as the Rio Itiguira, a tributary of the Rio Paraguai. In the east its range is delimited by the left bank of the Rio Paranaiba to its headwaters and from there to the east of the Rio Manuel Alves Grande (a tributary of the Rio Tocantins) to the Rio Tocantins, and from there restricted to the west (left bank) of the river.
© International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
Source:
IUCN
Trusted
Geographic Range
Aotus azarae is found only in South America. It inhabits the area south from the Rio Madre de Rios and Rio Guapore in Bolivia into Paraguay and northern Argentina. In Argentina, the southern night owl ranges south of the Rio Bermejo and east from the Rio Paraguai to the Andes. This species is divided into two subspecies, Aotus azarae boliviensis and Aotus azarae azarae, by an area extending roughly from Lago Uberaba on the east to Sucre, Bolivia, on the west. Aotus a. boliviensis is the northern subspecies; A. a. azarae, the southern one. Baer (1994), Nowak (1991)
Biogeographic Regions: neotropical (Native )
© The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors
Source:
Animal Diversity Web
Trusted
Physical Description
Morphology
Physical Description
Azara's night monkeys are one of the smaller cebid species. Its head and body length ranges from about 240-370 mm, with a tail length of approximately 316-400 mm. The tail is not prehensile and its the posterior third is black. In a species this small, there is no need for a prehensile tail because it is so lightweight. There is also no sexual dimorphism in size or in any other aspect of the morphology of this species other than the genitalia. The head is relatively round and the eyes are very large with well-developed eyelids. The retina contains rods only. The ears are rather small and cannot be seen because of the short, dense, semiwooly, and soft fur. The fur has a grayish/agouti dorsum with a slightly more reddish stripe down the side. The area around the central face is brown with a white border, and there are large white patches over the eyes. There are also three black stripes that extend into the forehead red fur on the sides of the neck. Azara's night monkeys also have a throat sac under the chin that allows them to create resonant vocalizations.
The tooth formula is I2/2, C1/1, P3/3, M3/3, and it equals 36 teeth. The upper molars have four cusps, and the lower molars have four or sometimes five. This family is set apart from other primates by their platyrrhine nose (a wide form of the septum that separates the nostrils). The long and thin digits bear flattened or curved nails. It's great toe is well-developed and widely opposable to the other toes. There is no baculum.
Macdonald (1984), Nowak (1991)
Range mass: 0.6 to 1 kg.
Range length: 240 to 370 mm.
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry
Sexual Dimorphism: sexes alike
© The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors
Source:
Animal Diversity Web
Trusted
Ecology
Habitat
Habitat and Ecology
Night monkeys are nocturnal: they are most active at dawn and dusk. The only exception is Aotus azarae azarae of the Chaco of southern Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina, which is cathemeral (active during night and day). They are frugivorous; their diet includes fruit, nectar and flower (seasonally important for A. a. azarae in the Chaco), leaves, and small animals prey such as insects (Wright 1989; Fernandez-Duque 2007). Aotus azarae has been observed to include a significant portion of leaves in its diet (Ganzhorn and Wright 1994; Wright 1985; Arditi and Placci 1990; Giménez and Fernandez-Duque 2003), as has Aotus zonalis on Barro Colorado Island in an early study by Hladik and Hladik (1969).
They are socially monogamous, living in small groups of an adult pair and offspring of different ages (infant, one or two juveniles and sometimes a subadult. In A. a. azarae a significant number of adults range alone. They may be subadults that have left their natal groups or older adults which have been evicted from their groups by competitors (Fernandez-Duque and Huntington 2002; Fernandez-Duque 2004). Both sexes disperse. Males care for the infants (carry them) (Rotundo et al. 2002, 2005). Lone adults were observed by Villavicencio Galindo (2003) in northern Colombia. Night monkeys are territorial—groups occupy overlapping territories of 5-18 ha (depending on the species and location) (Wright 1978; Fernandez-Duque 2007). García and Braza (1987) recorded a home range of 1.3 ha for A. a. boliviensis in Beni, Bolivia. Arditi (1992) estimated a home range 12 ha for A. a. azarae in Guaycolec, Formosa, Argentina. Wright (1994) and Fernandez-Duque (2007) review the behaviour and ecology of the genus.
Captive male A. lemurinus reach sexual maturity when 2 years old, and captive female A. vociferans and A. nancymaae first breed when 3-4 years old (Dixson 1983; Fernandez-Duque 2007). In the wild, male A. azarae reach adult weight only when about 4 years old, and age at first reproduction is about 5 years of age (Juárez et al. 2003; Fernandez-Duque 2004). A female A. azaraewas found to breed for the first time at 58 months of age (Fernandez-Duque et al. 2002). Single offspring are the rule. Wright (1985) recorded births between August and February for A. nigriceps in Peru (Manu National Park), and Aquino et al. (1990) indicated a birth season between December and March) for A. nancymaae in north-eastern Peru. In the Argentinean Chaco, A. azarae shows a peak of births between March and June (Fernandez-Duque 2007).
Size:
Aotus azarae azarae
Adult male weight average 1.254±0.118 kg (n=40, range 0.99-1.58 kg), adult female weight average 1.246±0.114 kg (n=39, range 1.01-1.45 kg) (Fernandez-Duque 2004)
Aotus azarae boliviensis
Adult male weight average 1.18 kg (n=4), adult female weight 1.23 (n=8) (Smith and Jungers 1997)
Aotus azarae infulatus
Adult male weight average 1.19 kg (n=1), adult female weight 1.24 (n=1) (Fernandes 1993).
Systems
- Terrestrial
© International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
Source:
IUCN
Trusted
Habitat
Aotus azarae live in the trees of Bolivia, Paraguay, and northern Argentina. They sleep there during the day and rarely come down to the ground. They use lianas to move from tree to tree in the dense forest. They feed and work at night making them less apt to deal with predation. Grzimek (1990)
© The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors
Source:
Animal Diversity Web
Trusted
Trophic Strategy
Food Habits
Azara's night monkeys are omnivorous, feeding on insects, fruits, leaves, seeds, bark, flowers, gums, bird eggs, and small vertebrates. Night monkeys feed in trees, foraging at night as a small family. They tend to feed in the same fruit trees on successive nights. (Macdonald, 1984; Nowak, 1991)
Animal Foods: birds; mammals; amphibians; reptiles; eggs; insects; terrestrial non-insect arthropods
Plant Foods: leaves; wood, bark, or stems; seeds, grains, and nuts; fruit; flowers; sap or other plant fluids
Primary Diet: omnivore
© The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors
Source:
Animal Diversity Web
Trusted
Life History and Behavior
Life Expectancy
Lifespan, longevity, and ageing
© Joao Pedro de Magalhaes
Source:
AnAge
Trusted
Reproduction
Reproduction
The father takes an active role in raising the young and the relationship among the mother and father is monogamous. This permanent pairing is based on the intolerance of males and females for other individuals of their own sex.
Mating System: monogamous
The gestational period ranges from 126-133 days and usually only 1 baby is born, rarely 2. The weight at birth ranges from 3.2-3.7 ounces. Young are weaned anywhere from five to twelve months, and they reach sexual maturity at two years of age.
Macdonald (1984), Nowak (1990)
Range number of offspring: 1 to 2.
Range gestation period: 126 to 133 days.
Range weaning age: 5 to 12 months.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 2 years.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 2 years.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); viviparous
In the first week of life, the newborn night monkey nestles in his or her mother's groin. Once the second week comes, the father assists in carrying the baby at his groin. And by the third week, the father carries the baby there full-time. Beginning with the second month, the baby is carried in a jockey-like posture on the father's back, which is where the monkey will stay until the age of four to five months. During the final half of that first year, the young night monkey increases it's play with it's siblings. It is also during this time that the young night monkey relates more to the mother than to the father.
Parental Investment: pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Male, Female); pre-independence (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Male, Female); extended period of juvenile learning
© The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors
Source:
Animal Diversity Web
Trusted
Molecular Biology and Genetics
Molecular Biology
Barcode data: Aotus azarai
There are 5 barcode sequences available from BOLD and GenBank. Below is a sequence of the barcode region Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI or COX1) from a member of the species. See the BOLD taxonomy browser for more complete information about this specimen and other sequences.
-- end --
Download FASTA File
© Barcode of Life Data Systems
Trusted
Statistics of barcoding coverage: Aotus azarai
Public Records: 5
Species: 5
Species With Barcodes: 1
© Barcode of Life Data Systems
Trusted
Conservation
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List Assessment
Red List Category
Red List Criteria
Version
Year Assessed
Assessor/s
Reviewer/s
Justification
History
- 2003Least Concern(IUCN 2003)
- 1996Lower Risk/least concern
© International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
Source:
IUCN
Trusted
Conservation Status
This species is not yet endangered. They are very successful due to their nocturnal behavior. Despite destruction of their habitat, Aotus azarae have persisted because of their ability to adapt to new environmental situations. These monkeys are killed for their fur and meat. They are also used extensively in biomedical research. Intensive deforestation has decreased food sources. (Grzimek, 1990; Nowak, 1991; Baer, 1994)
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern
© The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors
Source:
Animal Diversity Web
Trusted
Trends
Population
A. a. azarae:
In eastern Formosa (Guaycolec), densities can be as high as 60 individuals/km² in gallery forests (Fernandez-Duque et al. 2001). Relatively lower densities have been estimated elsewhere in Formosa: 12.8-29.0 individuals/km² (see Fernandez-Duque 2007).
Population Trend
© International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
Source:
IUCN
Trusted
Threats
Threats
Threats to these subspecies include habitat loss due to agricultural development for soy and cattle ranching in Brazilian cerrado, soy in the Bolivian Chiquitano, and small-scale farms and cattle ranching in Argentina. Minimal subsistence hunting occurs in Bolivia, for consumption and bait for fishing.
Aotus a. infulatus:
Much forest destruction and fragmentation is occurring in its range in southern Pará and northern Mato Grosso.
© International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
Source:
IUCN
Trusted
Management
Conservation Actions
Aotus azarae azarae
Argentina
Plicomayo National Park
Bolivia
Kaa-Iya Gran Chaco National Park (3,441,115 ha)
Estación Biológica Beni (135,000 ha) (Garcia and Tarifa 1988)
Paraguay
Tinfunque National Park
Defensores del Chaco National Park (780,000 ha) (Stallings 1985, 1989)
Aotus azarae boliviensis
Bolivia
Isiboro Secure National Park (1,200,00 ha) (Brown and Rumiz 1986)
Noel Kempff Mercado National Park (1,500,00) (Wallace et al. 1998))
Pilón Lajas National Park (400,000 ha) Brown and Rumiz 1986)
Amboró National Park (180,000 ha) (Brown and Rumiz 1986)
Carrasco Ichilo National Park (622,600 ha) (in range)
Madidi National Park(1,571500 ha) (in range)
Aotus azarae infulatus
Araguaia National Park (557,726 ha) (in range)
Pantanal Matogrossense National Park (136,046 ha) (in range)
Gurupi Biological Reserve (272,379 ha) (in range)
Tapirapé Biological Reserve (99,703 ha) (in range)
Tapajós National Forest (600,000 ha) (in range)
© International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
Source:
IUCN
Trusted
Relevance to Humans and Ecosystems
Benefits
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
There are no adverse affects of Aotus azarae on humans.
© The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors
Source:
Animal Diversity Web
Trusted
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
Aotus azarae is of great importance to humans in that it provides a nonhuman primate for biomedical research. It has played an indispensable role in many research studies such as the study of malaria and other natural infections, viral oncogenesis, ophthalmology research, neocortical organization and function, and memory-related functions. (Baer, 1994)
Positive Impacts: research and education
© The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors
Source:
Animal Diversity Web
Trusted
Wikipedia
Azara's night monkey
Azara's night monkey (Aotus azarae), also known as the southern night monkey, is a night monkey species from South America. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Peru and Paraguay. The species is nocturnal and monogamous, with the males providing a large amount of parental care. It is named after Spanish naturalist Félix de Azara. The species is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Contents |
Taxonomy
There are three subspecies of Azara's night monkey.[1]
- Aotus azarae azarae
- Bolivian night monkey, Aotus azarae boliviensis
- Feline night monkey, Aotus azarae infulatus
Physical characteristics
Due to a lack of data body size and weight measurements of Azara's night monkey have been estimated from a small number of wild samples. The average head and body length of the female is 341 mm (13.4 in) while the male is 346 mm (13.6 in), the male weighs from 1,180 to 1,254 g (2.6 to 2.76 lb) and the female, 1,190 to 1,246 g (2.6 to 2.75 lb). Its gestation period is about 133 days. The average lifespan of Azara's night monkey is 20 years.[3]
Behavior and ecology
Azara's night monkey is a monogamous species, with the male remaining present to raise the offspring and provide food. The offspring will only stay with its family until two to three years of age and then will disperse to begin a family of its own. There is very little sexual dimorphism in this species.[3]
Azara's night monkey is primarily a frugivore, but also will eat things such as leaves, flowers, and insects. One of the main advantages of being a nocturnal animal is that there is greatly reduced competition from diurnal animals.[3]
Azara's night monkey spends its life in trees and becomes more active when the moon is brighter, tending to keep to its well-known paths. Azara's night monkey can be found sleeping in groups of between 2 and 5 others in trees. The average group size is about 3 monkeys. It leaps from tree to tree but also moves quadrupedally throughout the forest.[3]
Habitat and distribution
Azara's night monkey is distributed throughout southern Central America and northern South America. It can be found in Panama, northern Colombia, northwestern Venezuela, northern Peru, southern Brazil, and eastern Ecuador. It is also found in parts of Bolivia, Paraguay, and Argentina. It tends to live in vine forests that are low as well as tall forests with dense canopies. Very little research has been conducted on Azara's night monkey due to the fact that it is nocturnal.[3]
Conservation
The majority of the Azara's night monkey species is abundant and widespread and has no current extinction threats. However, there are some threats due to high rates of habitat disruption.[3]
References
- ^ a b Groves, C. (2005). Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. eds. Mammal Species of the World (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 139-140. OCLC 62265494. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3/browse.asp?id=12100300.
- ^ Fernandez-Duque, E., Wallace, R. B. & Rylands, A. B. (2008). "Aotus azarae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/41539. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f Cawthon Lang, K.A. (2005-07-18). "Primate Factsheets: Owl monkey (Aotus) Taxonomy, Morphology, & Ecology". Primate Info Net. http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/factsheets/entry/owl_monkey. Retrieved 2012-04-18.
Source:
Wikipedia
Unreviewed
Disclaimer
EOL content is automatically assembled from many different content providers. As a result, from time to time you may find pages on EOL that are confusing.
To request an improvement, please leave a comment on the page. Thank you!
