GOELDI’S MONKEY

(Callimico goeldii)

Description

The Goeldi’s monkey is a small species of monkey found in South America. It has thick blackish brown fur with a mane around the head, neck and shoulders. Occasionally adults will have a series of lighter coloured rings at the base of their tails. Adults are around 25cm long but their tails can be as long as 30cm! Juveniles are very similar in appearance but lack the mane and tail rings.

Habitat & Distribution

Goeldi’s monkeys are found in the understory layer of the Amazon rainforest in parts of Bolivia, Brazil, Peru, Columbia and Ecuador.

Diet

The varied diet of the Goeldi’s monkey includes fruits, insects and some small animals such as snakes and frogs. They also rely heavily on fungi as the main part of their diet throughout the dry season.

Conservation Status

Vulnerable.

Did you know?

Goeldi’s monkeys have up to 40 different calls. They use these calls to keep in touch with each other whilst moving through the rainforest as well as alerting each other to the presence of food and predators.

Goeldi’s monkeys will often team up with other small species of monkey, such as red-bellied tamarins. They eat different foods so are not in competition with each other but will help to keep each other safe. More monkeys mean more lookouts and less chance of being eaten!

When a baby is born, it is the responsibility of the whole family to look after the infant. After about 2 weeks of staying with mum, the rest of the group take it in turns to carry the baby and will then help to teach it about life in the rainforest.