Their wild population has increased due to an embargo that was imposed by source contries in the 1970's. Between 1968 and 1972, the United States imported 20,869 owl monkeys (including other species of the genus Aotus), primarily from Columbia and Bolivia. Between 1976 and 1980, the number was drastically reduced to 3300 individuals. (Baer, 1994)
Perception Channels: tactile ; chemical
This species is not yet endangered. They are very successful due to their nocturnal behavior. Despite destruction of their habitat, Aotus azarae have persisted because of their ability to adapt to new environmental situations. These monkeys are killed for their fur and meat. They are also used extensively in biomedical research. Intensive deforestation has decreased food sources. (Grzimek, 1990; Nowak, 1991; Baer, 1994)
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern
There are no adverse affects of Aotus azarae on humans.
Aotus azarae is of great importance to humans in that it provides a nonhuman primate for biomedical research. It has played an indispensable role in many research studies such as the study of malaria and other natural infections, viral oncogenesis, ophthalmology research, neocortical organization and function, and memory-related functions. (Baer, 1994)
Positive Impacts: research and education
Azara's night monkeys are omnivorous, feeding on insects, fruits, leaves, seeds, bark, flowers, gums, bird eggs, and small vertebrates. Night monkeys feed in trees, foraging at night as a small family. They tend to feed in the same fruit trees on successive nights. (Macdonald, 1984; Nowak, 1991)
Animal Foods: birds; mammals; amphibians; reptiles; eggs; insects; terrestrial non-insect arthropods
Plant Foods: leaves; wood, bark, or stems; seeds, grains, and nuts; fruit; flowers; sap or other plant fluids
Primary Diet: omnivore
Aotus azarae is found only in South America. It inhabits the area south from the Rio Madre de Rios and Rio Guapore in Bolivia into Paraguay and northern Argentina. In Argentina, the southern night owl ranges south of the Rio Bermejo and east from the Rio Paraguai to the Andes. This species is divided into two subspecies, Aotus azarae boliviensis and Aotus azarae azarae, by an area extending roughly from Lago Uberaba on the east to Sucre, Bolivia, on the west. Aotus a. boliviensis is the northern subspecies; A. a. azarae, the southern one. Baer (1994), Nowak (1991)
Biogeographic Regions: neotropical (Native )
Aotus azarae live in the trees of Bolivia, Paraguay, and northern Argentina. They sleep there during the day and rarely come down to the ground. They use lianas to move from tree to tree in the dense forest. They feed and work at night making them less apt to deal with predation. Grzimek (1990)
Azara's night monkeys are one of the smaller cebid species. Its head and body length ranges from about 240-370 mm, with a tail length of approximately 316-400 mm. The tail is not prehensile and its the posterior third is black. In a species this small, there is no need for a prehensile tail because it is so lightweight. There is also no sexual dimorphism in size or in any other aspect of the morphology of this species other than the genitalia. The head is relatively round and the eyes are very large with well-developed eyelids. The retina contains rods only. The ears are rather small and cannot be seen because of the short, dense, semiwooly, and soft fur. The fur has a grayish/agouti dorsum with a slightly more reddish stripe down the side. The area around the central face is brown with a white border, and there are large white patches over the eyes. There are also three black stripes that extend into the forehead red fur on the sides of the neck. Azara's night monkeys also have a throat sac under the chin that allows them to create resonant vocalizations.
The tooth formula is I2/2, C1/1, P3/3, M3/3, and it equals 36 teeth. The upper molars have four cusps, and the lower molars have four or sometimes five. This family is set apart from other primates by their platyrrhine nose (a wide form of the septum that separates the nostrils). The long and thin digits bear flattened or curved nails. It's great toe is well-developed and widely opposable to the other toes. There is no baculum.
Macdonald (1984), Nowak (1991)
Range mass: 0.6 to 1 kg.
Range length: 240 to 370 mm.
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry
Sexual Dimorphism: sexes alike
The father takes an active role in raising the young and the relationship among the mother and father is monogamous. This permanent pairing is based on the intolerance of males and females for other individuals of their own sex.
Mating System: monogamous
The gestational period ranges from 126-133 days and usually only 1 baby is born, rarely 2. The weight at birth ranges from 3.2-3.7 ounces. Young are weaned anywhere from five to twelve months, and they reach sexual maturity at two years of age.
Macdonald (1984), Nowak (1990)
Range number of offspring: 1 to 2.
Range gestation period: 126 to 133 days.
Range weaning age: 5 to 12 months.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 2 years.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 2 years.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; viviparous
In the first week of life, the newborn night monkey nestles in his or her mother's groin. Once the second week comes, the father assists in carrying the baby at his groin. And by the third week, the father carries the baby there full-time. Beginning with the second month, the baby is carried in a jockey-like posture on the father's back, which is where the monkey will stay until the age of four to five months. During the final half of that first year, the young night monkey increases it's play with it's siblings. It is also during this time that the young night monkey relates more to the mother than to the father.
Parental Investment: pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Male, Female); pre-independence (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Male, Female); extended period of juvenile learning
Azara's night monkey (Aotus azarae), also known as the southern night monkey, is a night monkey species from South America. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Peru and Paraguay.[2] The species is monogamous, with the males providing a large amount of parental care. It is named after Spanish naturalist Félix de Azara. Although primarily nocturnal, some populations of Azara's night monkey are unique among night monkeys in being active both day and night.[2] The species is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.[2]
There are three subspecies of Azara's night monkey.[1]
Due to a lack of data body size and weight measurements of Azara's night monkey have been estimated from a small number of wild samples. The average head and body length of the female is 341 mm (13.4 in) while the male is 346 mm (13.6 in). The average weight is 1,254 g (2.765 lb) for male A. a. azarae, 1,246 g (2.747 lb) for female A. a. azarae, 1,180 g (2.60 lb) for male A. a. boliviensis, and 1,230 g (2.71 lb) for female A. a. boliviensis.[3] Its gestation period is about 133 days. The lifespan for Azara's night monkey is unknown, but the captive life span for members of the genus Aotus is believed to be 20 years.[3]
Azara's night monkey is a monogamous species, with the male remaining present to raise the offspring and provide food. The offspring will only stay with its family until two to three years of age and then will disperse to begin a family of its own. There is very little sexual dimorphism in this species.[3]
Azara's night monkey is primarily a frugivore, but also will eat things such as leaves, flowers, and insects. One of the main advantages of being a nocturnal animal is that there is greatly reduced competition from diurnal animals.[3]
Azara's night monkey spends its life in trees and becomes more active when the moon is brighter, tending to keep to its well-known paths. However, uniquely among night monkeys, populations of Azara's night monkey from the Gran Chaco are active both day and night.[2] Azara's night monkey can be found sleeping in groups of between 2 and 5 others in trees. The average group size is about 3 monkeys, consisting of an adult pair and their offspring. It leaps from tree to tree but also moves quadrupedally throughout the forest.[3]
Azara's night monkey is found in northern Argentina, Bolivia, central Brazil, Paraguay and far southeastern Peru.[2] Its range includes the southern Amazon, ranging into more open habitats such as the Gran Chaco. Aotus a. azarae is found in gallery forest and semi-deciduous forest, A. a. infulatus is found in humid lowland forest and gallery forest, and A. a. infulatus is found in various forest types. The last has been recorded as high as 1,250 m (4,100 ft) in the Andean foothills.[2]
Azara's night monkey is widespread and believed to be overall fairly common. It is present in several reserves. The species is not considered threatened, but is declining locally due to habitat loss.[2]
Azara's night monkey (Aotus azarae), also known as the southern night monkey, is a night monkey species from South America. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Peru and Paraguay. The species is monogamous, with the males providing a large amount of parental care. It is named after Spanish naturalist Félix de Azara. Although primarily nocturnal, some populations of Azara's night monkey are unique among night monkeys in being active both day and night. The species is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
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