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Douroucouli - The Night Monkey
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A monkey with a difference - this one
prances around at night. That's right: a nocturnal monkey.
Commonly known as the night monkey it is also known as the
douroucouli and its scientific name is Aotus trivirgattus. The
dense rain forests of Central and South America are home to
the douroucouli. These monkeys like many others of their
species are arboreal. Arboreal is a term used to describe
animals that spend most of their lives on trees, coming down
to the ground only sometimes.
Vital statistics
The night monkey has an interesting face - large eyes set
in flat face give it a soulful look. Because of the look it
sports it has earned another name - the owl monkey. It is a
small monkey and its body measures barely 27 to 37 inches. Its
tail more than makes up for the body being so small. The tail
almost equals the body in length! The fur that its body is
covered with is soft, woolly and short in length. |
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The monkey's back,
head, and legs are covered with silvery or dark grey fur.
Three black stripes are found along its head. The underside of
the body sports a different shade - either grey or brown.
Unlike most monkeys, its tail is not prehensile (adapted for
grasping). The female monkeys generally weigh more than the
male monkeys. Unlike what most monkeys do, the douroucoulis do
not groom each other often.
Its favorite eats
The douroucouli loves eating fruits, however it also varies its diet
using its skills as a predator - one who attacks, kills and eats an
animal of a different species. It indulges its taste buds with
insects, birds and mammals. It goes without saying that the bird or
mammal that it chooses to dine on is also small in size. |
The Douroucouli |
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Responsible families
The douroucouli lives in family groups comprising of two to five
members. They have great family values. Once an infant has been
weaned (the period before weaning spans 52 weeks), looking after it
becomes the joint responsibility of the whole family, be it the
father or other siblings, everyone pitches in.
The many sounds it makes
If you try to identify an owl monkey by the sounds it makes you will
have to familiarize yourself with quite a few sounds. It has
different sounds in its repertoire for different situations. When in
danger it gives out a high pitched shriek. The other sounds which
are probably meant for its family and friends to interpret are
squeaks, hoots, shrill cries and sharp clicking sounds.
The reason why this monkey ventures out only at night seems to be
that it is uncomfortable with daylight, and is not able to see
properly in daytime. If you want to see one in broad daylight you
would have to search hollow trees, their favorite daytime resting
place. After its nightly sojourn, just as dawn starts breaking, it
returns to its hideouts. And here is something all of us would envy
- this monkey sleeps for a good 17 hours a day. |
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