Vieira's titi

The monkeys live in monogamous pairs and sing duets in the morning.
Vieira’s titi was described only in 2012 and is considered critically endangered.
Newborns cling to the father.
They spend almost all their time in the canopy and rarely descend to the ground.
In captivity they have lived about 15–20 years.
They feed on fruit, leaves and insects.
The tail is long and non-prehensile.
The species is named after a Brazilian zoologist.
They inhabit northern Brazil.
The main threat is deforestation.

Age

Vieira's titis typically live for ten to twenty years, although the theoretical maximum lifespan can extend from nineteen years and one month to twenty-seven years and three months. The species reaches sexual maturity between two and three years of age; at birth, the young’s eyes are open. The stage from birth to adulthood involves a newborn that is very small and spends the first few months on the body of its mother or father, lasting from one day to two years. During the adult stage, which lasts from two to twenty years, the species lives in a permanent pair, defends a forest area, and raises offspring.

Phenotype

Vieira's titis have soft and dense fur that helps retain heat, and their long tails are utilized for balance. The species’ tails are very long and gripping, assisting with equilibrium when jumping between trees. Adult vieira's titis possess thick, grey-brown fur with a reddish tinge on the chest and abdomen, while the face is dark and nearly hairless, featuring large, expressive eyes. The animals have paws with long fingers and flat nails, allowing them to firmly grasp branches. The species’ long tails are used for balance.

Physiology

Vieira's titis measure in body length from 31 to 39 centimeters, and weigh from 0.9 to 1.3 kilograms; the young have a body length from 15 to 25 centimeters and a body mass from 150 to 450 grams during the stage of development from birth to adulthood; adult vieira's titis have a body mass from 0.9 to 1.3 kilograms and a body length from 31 to 39 centimeters.

Habitat

Vieira's titis inhabit elevations from 50 meters to 400 meters above sea level in tropical moist forests characterized by high temperatures and humidity, large trees, and vines. The species occupies terrestrial landscapes, including ground forest and the forest canopy. The climate is hot year-round, with frequent rain but occasional dry periods; it is also very hot and very humid throughout the year, with rain almost every day. During winter, precipitation is minimal, whereas summer brings increased rainfall.

Shelter

Vieira's titis are found in the crowns of tall trees and do not have a permanent or long-term shelter. The species uses locations for protection from predators and for resting, but they do not establish fixed dens. Therefore, vieira's titis lack a consistent refuge.

Geography

Vieira's titis are found within the Neotropics and Australasia biogeographical realms, inhabiting tropical dry forests of Mato Grosso ecosystems.

Feeding

Vieira's titis primarily consume ripe fruits, young leaves, flowers, and occasionally insects, finding food among branches and foliage in the forest’s upper canopy; the species gathers food with both hands and teeth from within the trees. Their diet includes fruits, leaves, flowers, insects, nectar, and seeds, and the foraging strategy involves searching for and obtaining food. The daily food requirement ranges from 120 to 200 grams. Prey items consist of beetles, butterflies, flies, Hymenoptera, bedbugs, Orthoptera, dragonflies, stoneflies, and lacewings.

Reproduction

Vieira's titis inhabit terrestrial environments and develop exclusively on land, away from bodies of water; the species reproduces through live birth, with young being born alive on land rather than hatching from eggs or larvae. Gestation lasts 5 months, and a litter has 1 offspring. The male and female live together for many years, producing one infant annually. Both parents alternate in carrying the infant on land. The interval between births ranges from 11 months to 1 year 1 month. Parents build nests high in the branches of shrubs or trees, and eggs or young develop within a nest constructed on the ground or close to it. Sexual reproduction is always accomplished through fertilization, without generational changes. Both parents actively raise the young, with the father frequently carrying the infant. The species reaches maturity from 2 to 3 years of age.