Bolivian gray titi monkey

Bellini: Male, born at Dallas Zoo on March 28, 2003.  He arrived here on October 25, 2007. Darker fur than Marjorie Belle.
 
Marjorie Belle: Female, born at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo on April 28, 2000.  She arrived here on October 23, 2007.  Lighter fur than Bellini.

Bellini and Marjorie Belle have had a number of babies here at the Zoo, many of which still live with them.

Will Turner: Male, born January 17, 2009.

Sawyer: Female, born December 3, 2009.

Sally: Female, born July 6, 2010.

Dexter: Male, born March 14, 2011.

Tosh: Male, born January 13, 2012.

Pepper: Male, born December 24, 2012.

Where to find me in the Zoo

Rare Animal Conservation Center

Fun Facts

• These small monkeys are native to the tropical forests of central Bolivia.
• Titi monkeys are often observed twining their tails together as they perch on branches.
• These primates are usually quiet, but do sometimes whoop and scream, probably for territorial reasons, and usually near dawn.

Ask an Expert

The Bolivian gray titi is a small monkey found in tropical forests of central Bolivia and Brazil. Both sexes have thick, long fur, making them look "fluffy" and bigger than they actually are. The fur varies from buffy to gray to orangish above and orangish below, with the tail buffy to blackish. This titi has conspicuous white tufts of fur at the ears, and is sometimes called the "white-eared titi".

Longevity

A typical lifespan for Bolivian gray titi monkeys is about 15 years in zoos, but some have been known to live into their late 20's. Typical lifespan in the wild is not known.

Behavior

In zoos, the Bolivian gray titi lives in small family groups, usually including a breeding pair and up to several offspring. This species has not been studied well in the wild, but other titis that have been studied live as monogamous pairs with offspring, so it seems likely that wild Bolivian gray titis do as well.
 
Titis are diurnal (active during the day) and arboreal. Titis do not have prehensile tails like some other South American monkeys do. However, when any two or more members of a titi family group sit next to each other, they typically twine their tails together like a braid. This behavior, unique to titis among all monkeys (at least in frequency), probably serves to reinforce the pair bond and other social relationships within a group. Titis engage in this behavior both awake and asleep.

Reproduction

Gestation for the Bolivian gray titi monkey is about 132 days, a little over 4 months. A single baby is usually born; twins are extremely rare. A titi father helps with infant care, carrying the baby on his back much of the time beginning the first few days after the birth. Older offspring in the group may also help carry their new brother or sister.

Size

Bolivian gray titi monkeys have a head and body length of 11-17 in (28-43 cm), with a tail length of 15-18 in (38-46 cm).

Weight

In zoos, Bolivian gray titis usually weigh about 2-3 lbs (907-1361 g). Wild animals weigh a little less on average, at just under two lbs (about 800 g).

Diet

Bolivian gray titis have not been well-studied in the wild. Other titi species are known to be largely frugivorous (eating mostly fruit), but also eat leaves and insects. In the Zoo, we feed the titis a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, insects (like mealworms and crickets), and a primate "chow" that provides most of their basic nutritional needs.

Geographic Range

The Bolivian gray titi monkey is found in Bolivia and Brazil.