Chiropotes – Bearded sakis

A group of distinctive and charismatic monkeys native to the Amazon Rainforest in South America. With their fluffy beards, thick coats, and serious expressions, bearded sakis look like wise old sages of the treetops—but don’t let their stoic appearance fool you. These monkeys are energetic, social, and uniquely adapted to life in the high forest canopy.

One of the most recognizable features of bearded sakis is—of course—their beards. Both males and females have a prominent, bushy beard that gives them a somewhat regal or scholarly look. Their fur is typically dark brown or black, sometimes with lighter streaks, and they have long, bushy tails that help them balance as they leap between branches. While their tails are not prehensile (they can’t grip like a spider monkey’s), they use them like a balancing pole for stability in the treetops.

Bearded sakis are specialist seed predators, meaning their diet consists mostly of hard seeds and unripe fruits that other monkeys can’t crack. They have incredibly strong jaws and large, powerful teeth that allow them to bite through even the toughest nuts and seed pods. This feeding strategy gives them access to a niche food source with less competition—but it also makes them highly dependent on intact forests that support these fruiting trees.

Socially, members of Chiropotes are known for living in large, cohesive groups, sometimes with 30 or more individuals. They’re highly vocal and use chirps, screams, and other calls to stay in touch as they move through the forest canopy. You’ll often see them traveling in long lines, leaping gracefully from branch to branch in search of fruit trees—always alert and coordinated.