Azara’s Night Monkey

• Common Name: Azara’s Night Monkey
• Taxonomy Classification Year: 1811
• Monkey Size: 24 to 37 cm (9 to 14 inches)
• Skin Color(s): Grayish-brown
• Habitat: Forests
• Diet: Frugivorous
• Native Countries: Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil, Peru, Argentina

Azara’s night monkeys^[1], also known as southern night monkeys and Azara’s owl monkeys, are native to the Gran Chaco region of South America, a vast area with many different ecosystems, from savannas to grasslands to dry spiny forests and gallery forests.

• Azara’s night monkeys sport startling markings. Their abdomen is a beautiful orange color contrasting with the gray-brown woolly fur on their body. Their ears are short, round, and barely visible. Their facial expressions are highlighted by white hair.
• Their large round eyes are hazel brown with large black pupils framed by light brown hair, making them resemble owls.
• Their nose is flat and small, with the nostrils turning sides. Azara’s night monkeys have a throat pouch that allows them to make loud sounds.
• They have large finger and toe pads and opposable thumbs. The large, muscular legs make these species agile jumpers.

• The scientific name of this monkey is made up of two words: aotus, meaning without ears, and Azara, about Félix Manuel de Azara, a Spanish naturalist.
• Genetic testing has shown that the males of this species mated pairs are the fathers of the babies they care for.
• Grooming has barely been observed in feral groups, but captive studies show that monogamous pairs sometimes groom each other.
• Although not quite visible, their eyes have a physical feature found in a few primate species. Each retina has only one type of cone, resulting in a lack of color vision.
• Although primarily nocturnal, some populations of Azara’s night monkeys are unique among nocturnal monkeys in that they are active both day and night.