White-Faced Saki

Pithecia Pithecia

Scientific Name

White-Faced Saki:  
Pithecia Pithecia

Distribution and Habitat

Geographic Range

White-faced saki may be found in northern and central South America, extending from the south of Columbia, Peru, Bolivia and central Brazil.

Natural Habitat

White-face Sakis are found in the neo-tropical rainforests and savannas.

Physical Characteristics

  • White-faced sakis are smaller monkeys with long tails.  Their faces are naked, but their heads are hooded with fur.  Their bodies are adapted to life in the trees, with strong hind legs allowing them to make far jumps.  Sakis reach a length of 15-20 inches and weigh around 3 or 4 pounds.  Females are slightly smaller and lighter.  Male’s coats are black except for a white to reddish forehead, face and throat.  Females are brown to brownish-grey above and paler below, with white to pale reddish brown stripes from their eyes to the corners of their mouth.

Quick Facts

  1. White-faced sakis are known as “flying monkeys” due to their ability to jump 30 feet.

  2. Sakis sleep coiled like a cat on open branches.

  3. Males acquire their dark coat color and white face by two months of age

Exhibit

M&T Bank Rainforest Falls

Conservation Status

Least Concern: The White-Faced Saki is common or abundant and is likely to survive in the wild.

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Diet

Omnivore

Sakis are omnivores. They eat fruit, leaves, flowers, insects and small vertebrates, such as rodents and bats. Sakis have robust incisors and canines to break through the tough skin of fruit.