Black-eared titi monkey

Description

These small primates are incredibly agile and fast, and are able to leap from branch to branch in the treetops. On the sides of their dark heads with white strips they have black tufts of hairs, which is where they get their name. Their coats are grey with white reflections and the tail dark with black rings which they use to keep balance. 

Behaviour

Like all primates, they are very sociable and live in groups of 5-10 individuals that have very strong bonds with each other, moving together to find food. They are diurnal and move speedily between the tree branches. They emit specific sounds to alert of the presence of different types of predators. They often form groups with other species of titi monkeys. After a 150-day gestation period, the female has 1-4 infants who are normally looked after by the males. 

Interesting facts

This species is important to the balance in ecosystems because they help to disperse the seeds of many species of trees. They are highly threatened by capture for illegal trafficking of exotic species. They are often taken as pets because of their size.