Pissinatti's saki or Pissinatti's bald-faced saki (Pithecia pissinattii) is a disputed species of saki monkey, a type of New World monkey. It is endemic to Brazil.

Pissinatti's saki
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Suborder: Haplorhini
Infraorder: Simiiformes
Family: Pitheciidae
Genus: Pithecia
Species:
P. pissinattii
Binomial name
Pithecia pissinattii
Marsh, 2014

Taxonomy

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Populations in this species were formerly classified within the Rio Tapajós saki (P. irrorata), but a 2014 study described these populations as a distinct species, P. pissinattii, based on their distinctive pelage.[2][3] However, a 2019 study, also analyzing pelage color variation across the range of the P. irrorata species complex, delineated only two distinctive groups corresponding to P. irrorata and Vanzolini's bald-faced saki (P. vanzolini), with the distinctive pelage used to distinguish P. pissinatii falling within the range of variation of P. irrorata. In addition, the study found that due to an unclear type locality, the holotype of P. irrorata may have been collected within the range of P. pissinatii, which would render pissinattii instantly synonymous with P. irrorata.[4] Based on this study, the American Society of Mammalogists (tentatively, pending further phylogenetic studies) synonymized pissinattii with irrorata,[5] but the IUCN Red List and ITIS retain pissinattii as a distinct species.[1][6]

This species was named after Alcides Pissinatti, a Brazilian veterinarian who is the co-founder of the Centro de Primatologia do Rio de Janeiro and vice president of the Brazilian Academy of Veterinary Sciences, and pioneered captive breeding for endangered Brazilian primates.[2]

Distribution

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This species is endemic to Brazil, where it is found south of the Solimões River between the Madeira and Purus rivers. It is unknown how far south this species reaches before meeting with P. irrorata.[2][1]

Description

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Both sexes have pink to dark red-colored faces, with the faces of older females tending towards black, and also have black fur with distinct grizzling. Males have a distinct orange ruff; younger males are highly grizzled, but older males are not as much. Females have a tanner back and more grizzling.[2][7]

Status

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This species is thought to be threatened by logging & poaching and thus its population is thought to be declining. They are sometimes also found in the pet trade, and it is known to be kept as a free-ranging "pet" at Juma Jungle Lodge, Brazil. However, this species remains poorly-known and it is thus classified as data deficient on the IUCN Red List.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Marsh, L.K. (2021) [amended version of 2018 assessment]. "Pithecia pissinattii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T70610729A192447987. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T70610729A192447987.en. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d Marsh, Laura K. (2014-08-01). "A Taxonomic Revision of the Saki Monkeys, Pithecia Desmarest, 1804". Neotropical Primates. 21 (1): 1–165. doi:10.1896/044.021.0101. ISSN 1413-4705. S2CID 86516301.
  3. ^ "Scientists uncover five new species of 'toupee' monkeys in the Amazon". Mongabay Environmental News. 2014-09-02. Retrieved 2021-12-06.
  4. ^ Serrano-Villavicencio, José Eduardo; Hurtado, Cindy M; Vendramel, Rafaela L; Nascimento, Fabio Oliveira do (2019-01-03). "Reconsidering the taxonomy of the Pithecia irrorata species group (Primates: Pitheciidae)". Journal of Mammalogy. 100 (1): 130–141. doi:10.1093/jmammal/gyy167. ISSN 0022-2372.
  5. ^ "Pithecia irrorata J. E. Gray, 1842". ASM Mammal Diversity Database. American Society of Mammalogists. Retrieved 2021-12-06.
  6. ^ "Pithecia". www.itis.gov. Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2021-12-01.
  7. ^ "Five New Species of Saki Monkeys Discovered". Sci-News.com. 30 September 2014. Retrieved 2021-12-06.