Black bearded saki

Black bearded sakis are endemic to the far eastern Amazon in Brazil, in a range restricted to a relatively small region from the Tocantins River in Pará east to around the Grajaú River in Maranhão (similar to the range of the equally threatened Kaapori capuchin). The natural home range of bearded sakis can vary from 200 to 250 ha.[6] This is the only Amazonian pitheciidae found east of the Rio Tocantins is the Black bearded Saki.[7] Studies show that Bearded saki can adapt to reduction in habitat.

Black bearded sakis can be identified by their thick black hair, distinctive beard that shapes the face, and a bushy fox-like. Their tail is non-prehensible and use quadruple movement for locomotion.[8] Black bearded sakis have some yellowish-brown highlights around the back and shoulders and can weight from 2 kg to 4 kg[5]. Sexual dimorphism results in males being slightly larger than females and also have a bulging forehead. Formerly red-backed, brown-backed and Uta Hick's bearded saki, the other member of the genus Chiropotes, where catalogued as subspecies or taxonomically insignificant variations (in which case the 'combined' species simply was called the bearded saki), but based on color of pelage, karyotype, and molecular analysis it has been recommended treating these as separate species.[9] The black bearded saki is the only dark-nosed species of bearded saki with a blackish back, though some females and young have a paler, brownish back. Black bearded saki's teeth have evolved for seed predation: these dental adaptations allow then to crack and access seeds in extremely hard pods. They open hard-shelled fruits in a specialized, efficient process using their teeth.[6]

As an infant the monkeys can be seen using their tail to grasp things but lose the ability as the primate gets older.[10] They are very social animals commonly grooming and playing with one another, even with those of other species[11] and can be found in groups of around 30 individuals.[10]

The black bearded saki spends a majority of its time foraging for fruits and seeds, as well as insects.[12] They use their strong canine teeth to crack open hard shells of fruits and nuts enabling them to access the unripened young seeds in the fruits.

Bearded sakis have a gestation period of 5 months and produce one young at a time. They don't become sexually mature until 4 years old and have an expected lifespan of 18 years.[10]

Just over the last few decades urbanization has brought with it highways, agriculture, and dams creating an influx in habitat fragmentation, habitat destruction and hunting pressure.[1] Habitat fragmentation is rising as secondary roads increase and people move closer to the forests. Along with an influx of people the amount of agriculture required to support the area increases, increases pressure for deforestation. They also face a hunting problem for their bushmeat and their tails used as dusters.

Habitat conservation is of top priority as this species has a particularly small range are considered the most endangered primate in the Amazon and already locally extinct in a large portion of their original range.[10]

• ARKive - Images and videos of Chiropotes satanas