White-faced Saki — Brevard Zoo

Paws on Play

Expedition Africa

Wild Florida

La Selva

Australasia

Pygmy Marmoset
Spider Monkey
Squirrel Monkey
Swainson's Toucan
Baird's Tapir
Blue & Gold Macaw
Capybara
Coatimundi
Coscoroba Swan
Cotton-top Tamarin
Giant Anteater
Golden-Headed Lion Tamarin
Hyacinth Macaw
Two-toed Sloth
Golden Conure
Yellow-foot Tortoise
Red-foot Tortoise
King Vulture
Jaguar
Turkey Vulture
Black Vulture
White-faced Saki
Green Iguana
Black-bellied Whistling Duck
West Indian Whistling duck
Goeldi's Monkey

White-faced Saki

The White-faced Saki (Pithecia pithecia), also known as the Guianan Saki and the Golden-faced Saki, is a?type of New World monkey, found in Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela. This species lives in the understory and lower canopy of the forest, feeding mostly on fruits, but also eating nuts, seeds, and insects.

White-faced Saki

In captivity, female White-faced Sakis experience ovarian cycles of approximately 17 days, and a gestational period of 20-21 weeks. Following birth, the mother undergoes a period of lactationally-induced infertility lasting 23 weeks, on average. They usually have one offspring, but there are a few reports of twins born in North American zoos.

This species displays noticeable sexual dimorphism in their coloration. Females have brownish-grey fur and a white or pale brown stripe from the inside corners of their eyes nose to the outside of their mouth. Males, on the other hand, have black fur, with a reddish-white forehead, face, and throat.

White-faced sakis are monogamous, usually living in family groups with the parents and offspring from multiple years. When resting in the wild, they often wrap their tail around their body and look much like a termite mound in a tree. At night, they will often sleep in the same tree but usually spread out within the tree.

The pair at Brevard zoo is part of an AZA Population Management Plan.