Peruvian night monkey

Peruvian night monkey[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Suborder: Haplorhini
Infraorder: Simiiformes
Family: Aotidae
Genus: Aotus
Species:
A. miconax
Binomial name
Aotus miconax
Thomas, 1927
Peruvian night monkey range

The Peruvian night monkey (Aotus miconax), also known as the Andean night monkey, is a nocturnal New World monkey endemic to northern Peru. Adults weigh around 1 kg (2.2 lb) and measure up to 50 cm (20 in) in length. Its colour is grey to light brown with characteristic black and white markings on the face. The chest, belly and upper arms are orange tinged, however, to a lesser extent then Aotus nigriceps.

The species is one of the least known and possibly rarest Neotropical primates. This species is listed as vulnerable by the IUCN and endangered under Peruvian Law.[3]

The Peruvian night monkey is also one of the least studied of all primates. The only data that exists about this species are museum specimens, sighting records and very basic ecological information. The species is thought to inhabit areas of cloud forest at 900–2,800 m (3,000–9,200 ft) above sea level in the departments of Amazonas, Huanuco and San Martin, and in border regions of neighboring departments.[4]

  1. ^ Groves, C. P. (2005). Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 140. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. OCLC 62265494.
  2. ^ Shanee, S.; Cornejo, F.M.; Mittermeier, R.A. (2020). "Aotus miconax". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T1802A164046186. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-1.RLTS.T1802A164046186.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  3. ^ Heymann EW (2004). "Conservation categories of Peruvian primates – Categorias de conservación de los primates peruanos". Neotropical Primates. 12 (3): 154–155. doi:10.1896/1413-4705.12.3.154. S2CID 87383114.
  4. ^ Cornejo FM, Aquino R, Jimenez C (2008). "Notes on the natural history, distribution and conservation status of the Andean night monkey, Aotus miconomax Thomas 1927"". Primate Conservation. 23: 1–4. doi:10.1896/052.023.0101.