List of Costa Rican monkey species

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Central American squirrel monkey, Saimiri oerstedii, smallest of the Costa Rican monkey species Squirrel monkey1-cropped.jpg
Central American squirrel monkey, Saimiri oerstedii, smallest of the Costa Rican monkey species
Panamanian white-faced capuchin (Cebus imitator) Capuchin Costa Rica.jpg
Panamanian white-faced capuchin (Cebus imitator)

Four species of monkey are native to the forests of Costa Rica, the Central American squirrel monkey (Saimiri oerstedii), the Panamanian white-faced capuchin (Cebus imitator), the mantled howler (Alouatta palliata) and Geoffroy's spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi). [1] [2] All four species are classified scientifically as New World Monkeys. [3] Two of the species, the Central American squirrel monkey and the white-faced capuchin, belong to the family Cebidae, the family containing the squirrel monkeys and capuchins. The other two species belong to the family Atelidae, the family containing the howler monkeys, spider monkeys, woolly monkeys and muriquis. [4] [5] Each of the four species can be seen in national parks within Costa Rica, where viewing them in natural surroundings is a popular tourist attraction. [6] [7] A place where all four species can be seen is Corcovado National Park, on the Osa Peninsula. [8]

Contents

The smallest of the Costa Rican monkey species is the Central American squirrel monkey. Adult males average 0.8 kg (1.8 lb) and adult females average 0.7 kg (1.5 lb). [9] The Central American squirrel monkey has the most restricted range of any Costa Rican monkey, living only in secondary forests and partially logged primary forests on the central and south Pacific coast of Costa Rica, and on the Pacific coast of Panama near the Costa Rican border. [1] [10] In 2008, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) revised its conservation status to "vulnerable" after rating it "endangered" since 1982. [11] The Central American squirrel monkey is most often seen in Manuel Antonio National Park and Corcovado National Park in Costa Rica. [12]

The other three species have wider ranges within Costa Rica, each being found in forests over much of the country. [13] The white-faced capuchin, which has a range from Honduras to Ecuador, [14] is the second smallest Costa Rican monkey. Adult males average 3.7 kg (8.2 lb) and adult females average 2.7 kg (6.0 lb). [9] The mantled howler, with a range from Mexico to Ecuador, [15] is the second largest monkey species in Costa Rica. Adult males average 7.2 kg (16 lb) and adult females average 5.4 kg (12 lb). [16] Males make loud calls, especially at dawn and at dusk, that can be heard for several kilometers. [1] Geoffroy's spider monkey, with a range from Mexico to Panama, [17] is the largest of the Costa Rican monkeys, with males averaging 8.2 kg (18 lb) and females averaging 7.7 kg (17 lb). [16] It has long, slim arms and a long, prehensile tail. [1] [18] The IUCN has rated the white-faced capuchin and mantled howler in the lowest conservation risk category of "least concern", and has rated Geoffroy's spider monkey as "endangered". [14] [15] [17] Both the white-faced capuchin and the mantled howler are commonly seen in Costa Rica's parks. [13] [19]

It is unknown why the Central American squirrel monkey has such a restricted range relative to the other Costa Rican monkey species. One theory is that the Central American squirrel monkey's ancestors arrived in Central America earlier than the ancestors of the other species. Under this theory, the squirrel monkey's ancestors arrived in Central America between 3 and 3.5 million years ago, but could not compete effectively when the ancestors of the other species arrived in Central America about 2 million years ago. The other species thus drove the squirrel monkey out of most of its original range. Another factor may be the Central American squirrel monkey's preference for lowland, coastal areas, which may make them more vulnerable to significant population declines due to occasional major hurricanes. [20]

Two other monkey species are sometimes reported as living in Costa Rica, Geoffroy's tamarin (Saguinus geoffroyi) and the Panamanian night monkey (Aotus zonalis or Aotus lemurinus zonalis). [1] [21] [22] The western edge of Geoffroy's tamarin's known range is just west of the Panama Canal zone, about 200 kilometres (120 mi) from the Costa Rica border, and thus reports of it living in Costa Rica are most likely erroneous. [1] [21] Confusion may have resulted from the fact that over part of its range Geoffroy's tamarin is locally referred to as mono titi, which is a name also used for the Central American squirrel monkey in Costa Rica. [1] Reports of the Panamanian night monkey living in Costa Rica are plausible, since the species is known to occur on the Caribbean coast of Panama not far from the Costa Rica border. [1] [22] However, reports of it living in Costa Rica have not been confirmed by scientists. [1] [22]

Key

Female mantled howler (Alouatta palliata) Allouatapalliata2.jpg
Female mantled howler (Alouatta palliata)
Common NameCommon name of the species, per Wilson, et al. Mammal Species of the World (2005)
Scientific NameScientific name of the species
FamilyFamily within New World monkeys to which the species belongs
Average Size – MaleAverage size of adult male members of the species, in kilograms and pounds, per Campbell, et al. Primates in Perspective (2007)
Average Size – FemaleAverage size of adult female members of the species, in kilograms and pounds, per Campbell, et al. Primates in Perspective (2007)
Conservation StatusConservation status of the species, per IUCN as of 2008
RangeCountries in which the species occurs;

Costa Rican monkey species

Geoffroy's spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi) AtelesGeoffroyi.jpg
Geoffroy's spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi)
Common NameScientific NameFamilyAverage Size – MaleAverage Size – FemaleConservation StatusRangeReferences
Central American squirrel monkey Saimiri oerstedii Cebidae 0.829 kg (1.83 lb)0.695 kg (1.53 lb)Endangered Costa Rica, Panama [9] [11] [23]
Panamanian white-faced capuchin Cebus imitator Cebidae 3.668 kg (8.09 lb)2.666 kg (5.88 lb)Vulnerable Honduras through Ecuador [2] [9] [14] [24]
Mantled howler Alouatta palliata Atelidae 7.150 kg (15.76 lb)5.350 kg (11.79 lb)Vulnerable Mexico through Ecuador [15] [16] [25]
Geoffroy's spider monkey Ateles geoffroyi Atelidae 8.210 kg (18.10 lb)7.700 kg (16.98 lb)Endangered Mexico through Panama [16] [17] [26]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cebidae</span> Family of New World monkeys

The Cebidae are one of the five families of New World monkeys now recognised. Extant members are the capuchin and squirrel monkeys. These species are found throughout tropical and subtropical South and Central America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Panamanian white-faced capuchin</span> Species of primate

The Panamanian white-faced capuchin, also known as the Panamanian white-headed capuchin or Central American white-faced capuchin, is a medium-sized New World monkey of the family Cebidae, subfamily Cebinae. Native to the forests of Central America, the white-faced capuchin is important to rainforest ecology for its role in dispersing seeds and pollen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geoffroy's tamarin</span> Species of New World monkey

Geoffroy's tamarin, also known as the Panamanian, red-crested or rufous-naped tamarin, is a tamarin, a type of small monkey, found in Panama and Colombia. It is predominantly black and white, with a reddish nape. Diurnal, Geoffroy's tamarin spends most of its time in trees, but does come down to the ground occasionally. It lives in groups that most often number between three and five individuals, and generally include one or more adults of each sex. It eats a variety of foods, including insects, plant exudates, fruits and other plant parts. Insects and fruits account for the majority of its diet, but exudates are also important. But since its teeth are not adapted for gouging trees to get to the sap, it can only eat exudates when they are easily available.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atelinae</span> Subfamily of New World monkeys

The Atelinae are a subfamily of New World monkeys in the family Atelidae, and includes the various spider and woolly monkeys. The primary distinguishing feature of the atelines is their long prehensile tails, which can support their entire body weight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central American squirrel monkey</span> Species of New World monkey

The Central American squirrel monkey, also known as the red-backed squirrel monkey, is a squirrel monkey species from the Pacific coast of Costa Rica and Panama. It is restricted to the northwestern tip of Panama near the border with Costa Rica, and the central and southern Pacific coast of Costa Rica, primarily in Manuel Antonio and Corcovado National Parks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geoffroy's spider monkey</span> Species of spider monkey, from Central America

Geoffroy's spider monkey, also known as the black-handed spider monkey or the Central American spider monkey, is a species of spider monkey, a type of New World monkey, from Central America, parts of Mexico and possibly a small portion of Colombia. There are at least five subspecies. Some primatologists classify the black-headed spider monkey (A. fusciceps), found in Panama, Colombia, and Ecuador as the same species as Geoffroy's spider monkey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mantled howler</span> Species of New World monkey

The mantled howler is a species of howler monkey, a type of New World monkey, from Central and South America. It is one of the monkey species most often seen and heard in the wild in Central America. It takes its "mantled" name from the long guard hairs on its sides.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yucatán black howler</span> Species of New World monkey

The Yucatán black howler, or Guatemalan black howler, is a species of howler monkey, a type of New World monkey, from Central America. It is found in Belize, Guatemala and Mexico, in and near the Yucatán Peninsula. It lives in evergreen, semideciduous and lowland rain forests. It is also known as the baboon in Belize, although it is not closely related to the baboons in Africa.

The Coiba Island howler is a type of howler monkey, a type of New World monkey, endemic to Panama. Although the Coiba Island howler has been recognized as a separate species by a number of authorities since a 1987 study of its fingerprints, mitochondrial DNA testing found it does not differ from mantled howler populations in any significant way. A reason given for treating it as a separate species is that the dermal ridges of its hands and feet differ from those of the mantled howler.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ornate spider monkey</span> Subspecies of New World monkey

The ornate spider monkey is a subspecies of Geoffroy's spider monkey, a type of New World monkey, from Central America, native to Costa Rica and Panama. Other common names for this subspecies include the brilliant spider monkey, the common spider monkey, the red spider monkey, the Panama spider ape, and the Azuero spider monkey; the latter two of which were previously thought to be distinct subspecies, panamensis and azuerensis, respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brown-headed spider monkey</span> Subspecies of New World monkey

The brown-headed spider monkey is a critically endangered subspecies of the black-headed spider monkey, a type of New World monkey, found in northwestern Ecuador.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nicaraguan spider monkey</span> Subspecies of New World monkey

The Nicaraguan spider monkey is a subspecies of Geoffroy's spider monkey, a type of New World monkey, from Central America. It is native to Nicaragua and parts of Costa Rica closest to Nicaragua plus the Guanacaste peninsula. The population in Guanacaste and much of Nicaragua is sometimes considered to be a separate subspecies, A. g. frontatus. But other authorities consider A. g. frontatus to be a synonym of A. g. geoffroyi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Panamanian night monkey</span> Species of New World monkey

The Panamanian night monkey or Chocoan night monkey is a species of night monkey formerly considered a subspecies of the gray-bellied night monkey of the family Aotidae. Its range consists of Panama and the Chocó region of Colombia. There are also unconfirmed reports of its occurrence in Costa Rica, especially on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. The species definitely occurs in the Atlantic lowlands of Panama close to the Costa Rica border.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black-crowned Central American squirrel monkey</span> Subspecies of New World monkey

The black-crowned Central American squirrel monkey is a subspecies of the Central American squirrel monkey. Its range is restricted to the Pacific coast of western Panama to the western portion of the Chiriquí Province and of southern Costa Rica, south of the Rio Grande de Terraba, including the Osa Peninsula. It is the subspecies of Central American squirrel monkey seen in Corcovado National Park in Costa Rica. Its type locality is David, Panama, but its range apparently no longer extends that far east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grey-crowned Central American squirrel monkey</span> Subspecies of New World monkey

The grey-crowned Central American squirrel monkey is a subspecies of the Central American squirrel monkey. Its range is restricted to the Pacific coast of central Costa Rica. The northern end of its range is the Rio Tulin and the southern end of its range is the Rio Grande de Terraba. South of the Rio Grande de Terraba, it is replaced by the black-crowned Central American squirrel monkey, S. oerstedii oerstedii. Populations are very fragmented, and the subspecies does not occur in all locations within its general range. It is the subspecies of Central American squirrel monkey seen in Manuel Antonio National Park in Costa Rica.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colombian spider monkey</span> Subspecies of New World monkey

The Colombian spider monkey is a subspecies of the Black-headed spider monkey, a type of New World monkey, found in Colombia and Panama. Some authorities, such as Froelich (1991), Collins and Dubach (2001) and Nieves (2005), do not recognize the Black-headed spider monkey as a distinct species and so treat the Colombian spider monkey as a subspecies of Geoffroy's spider monkey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colombian white-faced capuchin</span> Species of New World monkey

The Colombian white-faced capuchin, also known as the Colombian white-headed capuchin or Colombian white-throated capuchin, is a medium-sized New World monkey of the family Cebidae, subfamily Cebinae. It is native to the extreme eastern portion of Panama and the extreme north-western portion of South America in western Colombia and northwestern Ecuador.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lomami red colobus</span> Species of Old World monkey

The Lomami red colobus is a species of red colobus monkey from central Africa. Historically, it had been treated as a subspecies of the Central African red colobus, but more recent taxonomies generally treat it as a separate species.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Wainwright, M. (2002). The Natural History of Costa Rican Mammals. Zona Tropical. pp. 125–149. ISBN   0-9705678-1-2.
  2. 1 2 Mittermeier, Russell A. & Rylands, Anthony B. (2013). Mittermeier, Russell A.; Rylands, Anthony B.; Wilson, Don E. (eds.). Handbook of the Mammals of the World: Volume 3, Primates. Lynx. pp. 412–413. ISBN   978-8496553897.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ↑ Hartwig, W. (2007). "Primate Evolution". In Campbell, C.; Fuentes, A.; MacKinnon, K.; Panger, M.; Bearder, S. (eds.). Primates in Perspective. The Oxford University Press. pp. 18–19. ISBN   978-0-19-517133-4.
  4. ↑ Groves, C. P. (2005). Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 129–139. ISBN   0-801-88221-4. OCLC   62265494.
  5. ↑ Groves, C. P. (2005). Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 148–152. ISBN   0-801-88221-4. OCLC   62265494.
  6. ↑ Greenspan, E. (2006). Frommer's Costa Rica 2007. Wiley Publishing. p. 88. ISBN   0-471-94440-8.
  7. ↑ Vorhees, M. & Firestone, M. (2006). Lonely Planet Costa Rica . Lonely Planet. p.  63. ISBN   1-74104-463-4.
  8. ↑ Hunter, L. & Andrew, D. (2002). Watching Wildlife Central America. Lonely Planet. p. 97. ISBN   1-86450-034-4.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Jack, K. (2007). "The Cebines". In Campbell, C.; Fuentes, A.; MacKinnon, K.; Panger, M.; Bearder, S. (eds.). Primates in Perspective. The Oxford University Press. pp. 107–120. ISBN   978-0-19-517133-4.
  10. ↑ Emmons, L. (1997). Neotropical Rainforest Mammals A Field Guide (Second ed.). The University of Chicago Press. pp. 126–127. ISBN   0-226-20721-8.
  11. 1 2 Wong, G.; Cuarón, A.D.; Rodriguez-Luna, E. & de Grammont, P.C. (2008). "Saimiri oerstedii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2008: e.T19836A9022609. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T19836A9022609.en . Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  12. ↑ Hunter, L. & Andrew, D. (2002). Watching Wildlife Central America. Lonely Planet. p. 148. ISBN   1-86450-034-4.
  13. 1 2 Reid, F. (1998). A Field Guide to the Mammals of Central America and Southeast Mexico. Oxford University Press, Inc. pp. 177–180. ISBN   0-19-506401-1.
  14. 1 2 3 de la Torre, S.; Moscoso, P.; Méndez-Carvajal, P.G.; Rosales-Meda, M.; Palacios, E.; Link, A.; Lynch Alfaro, J.W.; Mittermeier, R.A. (2021). "Cebus capucinus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2021: e.T81257277A191708164. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T81257277A191708164.en . Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  15. 1 2 3 Cuarón, A.D.; Shedden, A.; Rodríguez-Luna, E.; de Grammont, P.C.; Link, A.; Palacios, E.; Morales, A. & Cortés-Ortiz, L. (2008). "Alouatta palliata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2008: e.T39960A10280447. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T39960A10280447.en . Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  16. 1 2 3 4 Di Fiore, A. & Campbell, C. (2007). "The Atelines". In Campbell, C.; Fuentes, A.; MacKinnon, K.; Panger, M. & Bearder, S. (eds.). Primates in Perspective. The Oxford University Press. pp. 155–177. ISBN   978-0-19-517133-4.
  17. 1 2 3 Cuarón, A.D.; Morales, A.; Shedden, A.; Rodriguez-Luna, E.; de Grammont, P.C. & Cortés-Ortiz, L. (2008). "Ateles geoffroyi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2008: e.T2279A9387270. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T2279A9387270.en . Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  18. ↑ Hunter, L. & Andrew, D. (2002). Watching Wildlife in Central America. Lonely Planet. p. 151. ISBN   1-86450-034-4.
  19. ↑ Hunter, L. & Andrew, D. (2002). Watching Wildlife Central America. Lonely Planet. p. 149. ISBN   1-86450-034-4.
  20. ↑ Ford, S. (2006). "The Biogeographic History of Mesoamerican Preimates". In Estrada, A.; Garber, P.; Pavelka, M.; Luecke, L. (eds.). New Perspectives in the Study of Mesoamerican Primates. Springer. pp. 81–107. ISBN   0-387-25854-X.
  21. 1 2 Rylands, A.; Groves, C.; Mittermeier, R.; Cortes-Ortiz, L. & Hines, J. (2006). "Taxonomy and Distributions of Mesoamerican Primates". In Estrada, A.; Garber, P.; Pavelka, M. & Luecke, L. (eds.). New Perspectives in the Study of Mesoamerican Primates. Springer. pp. 32–37. ISBN   0-387-25854-X.
  22. 1 2 3 Rylands, A.; Groves, C.; Mittermeier, R.; Cortes-Ortiz, L. & Hines, J. (2006). "Taxonomy and Distributions of Mesoamerican Primates". In Estrada, A.; Garber, P.; Pavelka, M. & Luecke, L. (eds.). New Perspectives in the Study of Mesoamerican Primates. Springer. pp. 43–47. ISBN   0-387-25854-X.
  23. ↑ Groves, C. P. (2005). Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 138–139. ISBN   0-801-88221-4. OCLC   62265494.
  24. ↑ Groves, C. P. (2005). Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 137. ISBN   0-801-88221-4. OCLC   62265494.
  25. ↑ Groves, C. P. (2005). Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 149. ISBN   0-801-88221-4. OCLC   62265494.
  26. ↑ Groves, C. P. (2005). Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 150–151. ISBN   0-801-88221-4. OCLC   62265494.

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