Bald Uakari
From Freepedia
| Bald Uakari Conservation status: Lower risk (nt) | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Image:Balduakari.jpg | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Cacajao calvus (I. Geoffroy, 1847) |
The Bald Uakari (Cacajao calvus), also known as the Red Uakari or Bald-headed Uakari, is a distinctive red-faced monkey found in swampy forests in Brazil, Peru, and Colombia. The species is considered "near threatened" by the 2004 World Conservation Union (IUCN) Red List because of hunting and the destruction of its habitat. [1]
They have little fur on the face, with bright red facial skin a sign of good health, enabling them to choose the healthiest (most red-faced) to mate with. They have long, thick, white or red body fur with short, bushy tails. They are on average 55 cm long and weigh around 3,000 grams, with 15 cm tails. They usually live around 20 years.
Bald uakaris feed mainly on seeds and flowers, and some small animals.
They live in mixed groups of between five and 30 members, spending most of their time on the ground searching for seeds, and at night sleeping in trees for safety. The breeding season is between October and May. The female encourages the male to mate by releasing an attractive scent. The gestation period is unknown.
There are four recognized subspecies of the Bald Uakari:
- Cacajao calvus calvus
- Cacajao calvus ucayalii - Red Uakari
- Cacajao calvus rubicundus
- Cacajao calvus novaesi
References
- IUCN Red list, entry for the Bald Uakari, 2004, retrieved April 2, 1004
- Description and photographs, BBC, retrieved April 2, 2004
