The Panamanian night monkey[1] or Chocoan night monkey (Aotus zonalis) is a species of night monkey formerly considered a subspecies of the grey-bellied night monkey in the Aotidae family.
- The distribution area includes Panama and the Colombian region of Chocó. The Panamanian night monkey has large brown eyes, which, unlike many nocturnal animals, lack a tapetum lucidum.
- The tapetum lucidum is a layer of tissue in the eye that sits behind the retina, reflects light through the retina, and helps with night vision.
- This gives nocturnal animals the typical “eye glow” that nocturnal monkeys lack. In addition, although aotus means “earless“, night monkeys have tiny, hard-to-see ears surrounded by tufts of fur.
- Its hair is grey-brown to reddish brown with yellowish hairs on its abdomen.
- The backs of the hands and feet have dark brown or black hairs. The thickness and length of their fur depending on the altitude at which they live.
- Those that live at higher elevations have thicker, shaggy coats than those that live at sea level. Unique facial markings, including the Panamanian night monkey, are common among night monkeys.
- Black stripes are found starting at the crown of the head on both sides of the face and down the bridge of the nose. They have long, slender fingers and large digital pads on their hands and feet.
