MONKEYS OF LATIN AMERICA

AT-A-GLANCE

Latin American monkeys include capuchins, howlers, marmosets, night monkeys, sakis, spider monkeys, squirrel monkeys, tamarins, titis, uakaris, and woolly monkeys.
Most New World monkeys have prehensile or partially-prehensile tails that enable them to grasp objects. They have slender bodies and limbs with long, narrow hands. Their thumbs, when present, are typically non-opposable. Their noses are flatter with nostrils that point outward and are further apart than those of their Old World counterparts. Most have 36 teeth. They do not have cheek pouches or buttocks pads. New World monkeys are considered to be more primitive than Old World monkeys. 
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Golden-Bellied Capuchin
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Bolivian Red Howler
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black-tailed-marmoset-dec-2020_orig
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goeldi-s-monkey-jan-2021_orig
silvery-marmoset-dec-2020_orig
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wied-s-marmoset2_orig
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azara-s-night-monkey_orig
black-headed-night-monkey_orig
colombian-night-monkey-dec-2020_orig
Nancy Ma's Night Monkey
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Bearded Saki
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gray-s-bald-faced-saki_orig
napo-saki_orig
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white-nosed-saki-dec-2020_orig
black-faced-black-spider-monkey_orig
brown-headed-spider-monkey-jul-2020_orig
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white-bellied-spider-monkey_orig
black-capped-squirrel-monkey-feb-2021_orig
guianan-squirrel-monkey-dec-2020_orig
black-handed-tamarin_orig
emperor-tamarin-jun-2021_orig
geoffroy-s-tamarin-apr-2021_orig
golden-headed-lion-tamarin-jul-2020_orig
moustached-tamarin-feb-2021_orig
pied-tamarin-apr-2021_orig
red-chested-mustached-tamarin_orig
saddleback-tamarin-mar-2021_orig
bolivian-gray-titi-dec-2020_orig
collared-titi-feb-2021_orig
coppery-titi-dec-2020_orig
ornate-titi_orig
white-tailed-titi_orig
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Bearded Capuchin
Black-Capped Capuchin
Black-Horned Capuchin
Blond Capuchin
Colombian White-throated Capuchin
Ecuadorian White-fronted Capuchin
Golden-Bellied Capuchin
Guianan Weeper Capuchin
Humboldt's White-Fronted Capuchin
Panamanian White-Throated Capuchin
Shock-Headed Capuchin
Amazon Black Howler
Black-and-Gold Howler
Bolivian Red Howler
Brown Howler
Colombian Red Howler
Mantled Howler
Red-Handed Howler Monkey
Yucatan Black Howler
Black-and-White Tassel Ear Marmoset
Black-Tailed Marmoset
Black-Tufted Marmoset
Buffy-Headed Marmoset
Buffy-Tufted-Ear Marmoset
Common Marmoset
Emilia's Marmoset
Goeldi's Monkey
Silvery Marmoset
Western Pygmy Marmoset
White-Headed Marmoset
Wied's Marmoset
Northern Muriqui
Southern Muriqui
Andean Night Monkey
Azara's Night Monkey
Black-Headed Night Monkey
Colombian Night Monkey
Gray-Handed Night Monkey
Nancy Ma's Night Monkey
Northern Night Monkey
Panamanian Night Monkey
Spix's Night Monkey
Bearded Saki
Black Bearded Saki
Buffy Saki
Gray's Bald-Faced Saki
Monk Saki
Napo Saki
White-Faced Saki
White-Nosed Saki
Black-Faced Black Spider Monkey
Brown Spider Monkey
Brown-Headed Spider Monkey
Geoffroy's Spider Monkey
Guiana Spider Monkey
Mexican Spider Monkey
White-Bellied Spider Monkey
White-Cheeked Spider Monkey
Black Squirrel Monkey
Black-Capped Squirrel Monkey
Black-Crowned Central American Squirrel Monkey
Collins' Squirrel Monkey
Golden-Backed Squirrel Monkey
Guianan Squirrel Monkey
Humboldt's Squirrel Monkey
Black-Handed Tamarin
Cotton Top Tamarin
Emperor Tamarin
Geoffroy's Tamarin
Black Lion Tamarin
Black-Faced Lion Tamarin
Golden-Headed Lion Tamarin
Golden Lion Tamarin
Moustached Tamarin
Pied Tamarin
Red-Chested Mustached Tamarin
Red-Handed Tamarin
Saddleback Tamarin
Weddell's Saddle-Back Tamarin
Bolivian Gray Titi
Caqueta Titi
Chacoan Titi
Coastal Black-Handed Titi
Coimbra-Filho’s Titi Monkey
Collared Titi
Coppery Titi
Lucifer Titi
Masked Titi
Ornate Titi
Red-Bellied Titi
San Martin Titi
White-Tailed Titi
Bald Uakari
Golden-Backed Uakari
Neblina Uakari
Common Woolly Monkey
Peruvian Yellow-Tailed Woolly Monkey
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Bearded Capuchin
Black-Capped Capuchin
Black-Horned Capuchin
Blond Capuchin
Colombian White-throated Capuchin
Ecuadorian White-fronted Capuchin
Golden-Bellied Capuchin
Guianan Weeper Capuchin
Humboldt's White-Fronted Capuchin
Panamanian White-Throated Capuchin
Shock-Headed Capuchin
Amazon Black Howler
Black-and-Gold Howler
Bolivian Red Howler
Brown Howler
Colombian Red Howler
Mantled Howler
Red-Handed Howler Monkey
Yucatan Black Howler
Black-and-White Tassel Ear Marmoset
Black-Tailed Marmoset
Black-Tufted Marmoset
Buffy-Headed Marmoset
Buffy-Tufted-Ear Marmoset
Common Marmoset
Emilia's Marmoset
Goeldi's Monkey
Silvery Marmoset
Western Pygmy Marmoset
White-Headed Marmoset
Wied's Marmoset
Northern Muriqui
Southern Muriqui
Andean Night Monkey
Azara's Night Monkey
Black-Headed Night Monkey
Colombian Night Monkey
Gray-Handed Night Monkey
Nancy Ma's Night Monkey
Northern Night Monkey
Panamanian Night Monkey
Spix's Night Monkey
Bearded Saki
Black Bearded Saki
Buffy Saki
Gray's Bald-Faced Saki
Monk Saki
Napo Saki
White-Faced Saki
White-Nosed Saki
Black-Faced Black Spider Monkey
Brown Spider Monkey
Brown-Headed Spider Monkey
Geoffroy's Spider Monkey
Guiana Spider Monkey
Mexican Spider Monkey
White-Bellied Spider Monkey
White-Cheeked Spider Monkey
Black Squirrel Monkey
Black-Capped Squirrel Monkey
Black-Crowned Central American Squirrel Monkey
Collins' Squirrel Monkey
Golden-Backed Squirrel Monkey
Guianan Squirrel Monkey
Humboldt's Squirrel Monkey
Black-Handed Tamarin
Cotton Top Tamarin
Emperor Tamarin
Geoffroy's Tamarin
Black Lion Tamarin
Black-Faced Lion Tamarin
Golden-Headed Lion Tamarin
Golden Lion Tamarin
Moustached Tamarin
Pied Tamarin
Red-Chested Mustached Tamarin
Red-Handed Tamarin
Saddleback Tamarin
Weddell's Saddle-Back Tamarin
Bolivian Gray Titi
Caqueta Titi
Chacoan Titi
Coastal Black-Handed Titi
Coimbra-Filho’s Titi Monkey
Collared Titi
Coppery Titi
Lucifer Titi
Masked Titi
Ornate Titi
Red-Bellied Titi
San Martin Titi
White-Tailed Titi
Bald Uakari
Golden-Backed Uakari
Neblina Uakari
Common Woolly Monkey
Peruvian Yellow-Tailed Woolly Monkey
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While viewing the slideshow, click on any photo for the full species profile

ABOUT LATIN AMERICAN PRIMATES

Latin American nonhuman monkeys range in size from the tiny pygmy marmosets to medium-sized monkeys. Humans are the only ape species that resides in Latin America. No prosimians live in Latin America.

Latin American monkeys are New World monkeys. They are found from southern Mexico to central South America. All of Latin America’s nonhuman primate species live in tropical habitats, mostly rainforests, in the equatorial zone. Some live in cloud forests. Some live in human settlements, including cities.

Among Latin America’s nonhuman primate species, some live solely in trees, some primarily in trees, some along river and mangrove banks, and some live on the ground. Most are active in daytime, but some are nocturnal. 

Living at varying heights, whether in trees or on the ground, and dispersing activities between day and nighttime, more evenly distributes access to resources and reduces competition. This is one of the ways that nature ensures that everyone has access to all of the gifts of the Earth.

Worldwide geographic distribution of nonhuman primates