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Uakari

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Uakari[1]
Bald uakari (Cacajao calvus)
CITES Appendix I (CITES)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Suborder: Haplorhini
Infraorder: Simiiformes
Family: Pitheciidae
Subfamily: Pitheciinae
Genus: Cacajao
Lesson, 1840
Type species
Simia melanocephalus
Humboldt, 1812
Species

Cacajao melanocephalus
Cacajao calvus
Cacajao ayresi
Cacajao hosomi

Uakari (UK: /wəˈkɑːri/,[2] US: /wɑː-/)[3] is the common name for the New World monkeys from the genus Cacajao. Both the English and scientific names are believed to have originated from indigenous languages.[4]

A phylogeographic reconstruction identified a most recent common ancestor of living Uakari dating 1.7 million years ago, in the Solimões River, where the species was separated by the changing river and diversified.[5]

Species

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There are four species from the Genus Cacajao:[1][6]

  • Genus Cacajao
    • Bald uakari or red uakari, C. calvus
      • Cacajao calvus calvus
      • Cacajao calvus ucayalii
      • Cacajao calvus rubicundus
      • Cacajao calvus novaesi
  • Black-headed uakari species group

In 2014 Ferrari et al. proposed an alternative taxonomy for the C. melanocephalus group which recognizes the Aracá uakari as a subspecies of the golden-backed uakari, and also recognized Cacajao ouakary as a separate species, whereas current consensus is that C. ouakary is a junior synonym of C. melanocephalus.[7][8] This revision is not universally accepted.[9]

Geographic Distribution and Habitat

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Uakari are native to South America, residing in the western portions of the Amazon Rainforest in Eastern Peru and Western Brazil.[10][11] Uakari have previously been found in parts of Eastern Colombia[11]; however, it is thought that they may be extinct in this region as a result of excessive deforestation, which has destroyed habitats, significantly reduced Uakari habitat availability.[10] Nearly all Uakari live in the floodplains of the Amazon Rainforest, residing near small rivers and lakes.[10][11]

It is a common belief that Uakari are specialized to live only in flooded regions of the forest.[12] New research has shown that some groups of Uakari have adapted to live in terra firme forest, which is situated at a much higher altitude than Uakari were previously thought to live in.[12] The terra firme forest habitat resides 2000-2200 feet above sea level (600-700 meters above sea level), and therefore does not flood.[12] This evidence suggest that an environment that lacks flooding could possibly be more beneficial to the lifestyles of Uakari, especially considering the increase of human disruption in tropical forest, which has contributed to making portions of the Amazon Rainforest less hospitable.[12]

Physical Description

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The average Uakari weighs only 6-8 pounds (2.5-3.5 kg), where males are slightly heavier than females,[13] and is around 1 1/2 - 2 feet long (40-50 cm).[10][11] Uakari have unusually short, non-prehensile tails that are 5 inches (15 cm) long, causing them to rely on their arms, legs, fingers and toes to move through trees.[10] With the exclusion of the tops of their heads, faces, and ears, Uakari's bodies are covered in long fur ranging in colors such as yellow/gold, orange, brown, or red depending on the species.[10][11]

Uakari Red Faces

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A defining characteristic of Uakari are their hairless, red faces.[10] This unique feature is not due to pigmentation in the skin, but rather a lack thereof.[14] A lack of melanin, in combination with a thin epidermis and a high density of large capillaries in the face account for their scarlet complexion.[14]

It is suspected that the intensity of redness is an Uakari's face can be an indicator of health, however this hypothesis has not been scientifically verified.[14] The red faces are primarily used as a means of species identification, allowing Uakari group members to differentiate between individuals.[14] This feature also serves as a secondary sexual characteristic, where the intensity of redness is correlated with the level of testosterone in males and estrogen in females.[10] Levels of redness in a female Uakari's face varies throughout her menstrual cycle and can indicate when she is ovulating and most fertile.[14]

Behavior

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Like most primates, Uakari are active, intelligent, and social creatures living in groups called troops.[10][11] Troop sizes range from 10-30 individuals on average, with some troops being as large as 100 Uakari.[11][10] These animals are diurnal, where adults will forage during the day while their young socialize with peers by playing games with one another.[11] At night, Uakari can be found sleeping on thin limbs high up in the trees.[11] Although they are primarily quadrupedal, Uakari have been observed jumping from two feet to leap between trees. [11][13] Shrieks are used to communication between members of troops and to mark territory, but these animals do not have extensive verbal communication, and tend to be quiet most of the time.[11]

Reproduction

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Uakari are monogamous, where females will give birth to one offspring every other year.[10][11] Females are sexually mature at 3 years of age, and remain in the troop they were born into throughout their lives.[10] Males on the other hand, will leave their native troops in search of mates once they are old enough to reproduce.[10] In comparison to their female counterparts, male Uakari are much older when they reach sexual maturity at age 6.[10]

Uakari breeding season spans from October to May and their gestation period last around 6 months.[10] Infants will feed off of their mother's milk for the first few months of their lives and slowly transition to eating soft fruits once they are 3-5 months old.[11]

Diet

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Uakari forage both the canopies and forest floor, and are mostly herbivorous.[10][11] Due to extensive flooding during the rainy season, Uakari live up in the trees from December to May, where they primarily feed on fruits, as well as leaves and nectar.[10][11] The dry season spans from June to November, and Uakari are able to roam the forest floor where they have access to insects, seeds, nuts, and roots to eat.[10][11]

These animals have a consume a large amount of unripe fruit for which they have specialized dentition.[11][10] Uakari have strong jaws and large canines that allow them to bite through the hard exteriors of fruits and nuts, as well as flat molars that aid in mastication.[10][11]

Conservation

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Due to conservation efforts most Uakari species populations have been considered stable since 2011,[15] and are considered of least concern by the IUCN.[16] Black-headed Uakari, and a few species of bald Uakari are listed as vulnerable.[16] Uakari still face the threats of habitat destruction due to deforestation and hunting practices.[11] In some regions, Indigenous populations hunt Uakari, they are used as hunting bait in Brazil, and are a common meat source in Peru. [10][11]

Why is it important to protect Uakari?

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Uakari are primates and therefore closely related to humans and can be used for medical advancements.[11] Their genetic similarities to humans can provide information on efficacy and development of vaccines, as well as identifying treatments for new diseases.[11] Not only are Uakari beneficial to humans, but they're helpful to the environment. Uakari spread seeds from the food they eat through their waste, promoting genetic diversity and aiding in the protection of numerous plant species.[10]

Male bald uakari

References

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  1. ^ a b Groves, C. P. (2005). "Genus Cacajao". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 146. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
  2. ^ "uakari". Lexico UK English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on November 23, 2021.
  3. ^ "uakari". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Merriam-Webster.
  4. ^ Barnett, Adrian A. (December 2004). "The Meanings of Cacajao and Uacari: Folk Etymology in Neotropical Primate Taxonomy". Neotropical Primates. 12 (3): 147–152. doi:10.1896/1413-4705.12.3.147. ISSN 1413-4705.
  5. ^ Silva, Felipe Ennes; Luna, Leilton Willians; Batista, Romina; Röhe, Fabio; Gubili, Chrysoula; Farias, Izeni P.; Hrbek, Tomas; Valsecchi, João; Ribas, Camila C.; McDevitt, Allan D.; Dellicour, Simon; Flot, Jean-François; Boubli, Jean P. (2024-04-08). "Impact of Quaternary Amazonian river dynamics on the diversification of uakari monkeys (genus Cacajao )". Journal of Biogeography. doi:10.1111/jbi.14844. ISSN 0305-0270.
  6. ^ Boubli, J. P.; M. N. F. da Silva; M. V. Amado; T. Hrbek; F. B. Pontual; I. P. Farias (2008). "A taxonomic reassessment of black uakari monkeys, Cacajao melanocephalus group, Humboldt (1811), with the description of two new species" (PDF). International Journal of Primatology. 29: 723–749. doi:10.1007/s10764-008-9248-7. S2CID 26561719. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-10-31.
  7. ^ Ferrari, Stephen F.; Guedes, Patricia G.; Figueriredo-Ready, Wilsea M.B.; Barnett, Adrian A. (2014). "Reconsidering the taxonomy of the Black-Faced Uacaris, Cacajao melanocephalus group (Mammalia: Pitheciidae), from the northern Amazon Basin". Zootaxa. 3866 (3): 353–370. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3866.3.3. PMID 25283664.
  8. ^ "Cacajao". ASM Mammal Diversity Database. Retrieved 2019-07-24.
  9. ^ "Cacajao". ITIS. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v DiCesare, Maria (May 2022). "Bald Uakari, Cacajao calvus - New England Primate Conservancy". neprimateconservancy.org. Retrieved 2025-03-02.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Felton-Church, Ali. "Cacajao calvus (red uakari)". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 2025-03-21.
  12. ^ a b c d Heymann, Eckhard W.; Aquino, Rolando (2010-10-01). "Peruvian Red Uakaris (Cacajao calvus ucayalii) Are Not Flooded-Forest Specialists". International Journal of Primatology. 31 (5): 751–758. doi:10.1007/s10764-010-9425-3. ISSN 0164-0291. PMC 2945472. PMID 20949117 – via Springer Nature.
  13. ^ a b Gron, KJ (July 21, 2008). "Uakari". Wisconsin National Primate Research Center. Retrieved 2025-03-22.
  14. ^ a b c d e Mayor, P.; Mamani, J.; Montes, D.; González-Crespo, C.; Sebastián, M. A.; Bowler, M. (July 2015). "Proximate causes of the red face of the bald uakari monkey ( Cacajao calvus )". Royal Society Open Science. 2 (7): 150145. doi:10.1098/rsos.150145. ISSN 2054-5703. PMC 4632585. PMID 26587272 – via The Royal Society.
  15. ^ "Bald Uakari Monkey". peru.wcs.org. Retrieved 2025-03-22.
  16. ^ a b "Uakari". IUCN Red List. 2024-2. Retrieved 2025-03-22. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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