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    Pitheciidae – Titis & sakis

    The family of specialized seed-eating and fruit-husking primates

    Adept at leaping, Pitheciids are small to medium-sized monkeys (1-4 kg, 2-9 pounds). They are all arboreal, diurnal, and quadruped.

    They generally have broad fleshy noses. The genera exhibit disparate and discontinuous morphologies. They are more committed to eating seeds than any other primate group, and many are specialized as seed predators. Such species have tusk-like lower canines to support food-piercing action. Small to large fusion-fission groups can be observed in Pitheciids’ home ranges.

    The family fossil record includes many extinct genera which date back 20 million years and suggests two phases of the family’s radiation. The skeletal anatomy in Titis is most comparable to that of the ancestral platyrrhine.

    Did you know…?

    • Most of the members are native to Amazon and Bovinian forests.
    • Most species have been studied in the wild, but few are being studied in captivity using enrichment techniques.
    • Like all other neotropical monkeys, this group is more sensitive and responsive to vocal signals.