White Faced Saki

The White-faced Saki (Pithecia pithecia), also known as the Guianan Saki or the Golden-faced Saki, is a species of saki monkey and a type of New World monkey. They are diurnal (active during the day) and wholly arboreal (tree-living).

Size: Head and body length is 12-16 inches. The tail length is approximately the same as the head and body. Weight: Adult weight is 4-5 lbs.

Life Span: 15 years (average).

Color: Males are black except for the head which is whitish to reddish. Females are predominantly brown to brown-gray above, paler below, and have bright white to pale red stripes extending from each eye to the corners of the mouth.

Continent: South America

Range: Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela.

Habitat: The understory and lower canopy of the forest, usually at elevations of 210-750 meters.

Food: Diet consists of berries and other fruits, honey, leaves, flowers, small mammals such as mice and bats, and small birds.

Reproduction: Sakis live in monogamous pairs or small family groups. Juveniles may stay with their parents for up to a year or two after the birth of the next infant. The breeding season in the wild is not clearly known. Births in captivity have occurred throughout the year. The estrous cycle lasts 18 days, and gestation 150 days. A single young is produced. Female white faced sakis have one litter per year and each infant is born and cared for by the mother.

Fun Facts: Sakis are usually silent in captivity but emit a loud high pitch call in the wild. At the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium they will raise their hair and jump up and down on branches while emitting a loud shrill call.