Callicebus lugens (Humboldt, 1812)

Russell A. Mittermeier, Anthony B. Rylands & Don E. Wilson, 2013, Phitheciidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 3 Primates, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 432-483 : 468-469

23.

White-chested Titi

Callicebus lugens

French: Titi noir / German: Schwarzer Springaffe / Spanish: Titi negro

Other common names: Black Titi, White-handed Titi, Widow Monkey

Taxonomy. Simia lugens Humboldt, 1812 ,

vicinity of San Fernando de Atabapo, at the confluence of the rios Orinoco and Guaviare, Amazonas, Venezuela.

C. lugens was considered to be a subspecies of C. torquatus until the review of M. van Roosmalen and colleagues in 2002; they considered it to be a full species. It is a member of the C. torquatus species group. Its distribution may intergrade with that of C. torquatus between the rios Apaporis and Vaupés, although there are no data from this region on distributions of either species. C. lugens is sympatric with C. ornatus in the north-western extreme of its distribution in central Colombia. Monotypic.

Distribution. S Venezuela (S of the Rio Orinoco, between the Rio Caura to the W and the Rio Caroni to the E in Bolivar State, and S of the Rio Ventuari in Amazonas State), E Colombia (lowlands N of the rios Vaupés and Caqueta as far N as the Rio Tomo, a left bank tributary of the Orinoco), and NW Brazil (N of the Negro/Uaupés river system and W of the Rio Branco).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 31:2-35.5 cm (males) and 30-40 cm (females), tail 42— 48-5 cm (males) and 41-49 cm (females); weight unknown, but probably 1000-1500 g as for other members of the torquatus species group. Male and female White-chested Titis are undistinguishable in body size and coloration. Body is predominantly blackish, with some dark chestnut on back and sides. Hands are whitish or pale buffy. Throat and upper chest are whitish, with a white band extending upward as far as the chin.

Habitat. Lowland Amazon rainforest at elevations of 100-1000 m. In addition to terra firma and montane forest, the White-chested Titi may be found in transitional habitats, including white sand (caatinga) and white-water swamp (varzea) forests. Like the closely related Yellow-handed Titi ( C. lucifer ), the White-chested Titi may prefer high, relatively well-structured forest, which would contribute to niche partitioning with the Ornate Titi ( C. ornatus ), which is found primarily in the lower strata of denser, often disturbed, habitats.

Food and Feeding. Two field studies of White-chested Titis in Colombia recorded a typical titi diet consisting of 82-86% fruit, complemented with some leaves (6-10%) and occasional consumption of flowers (3-4%) and arthropods (34%). In one of the studies, seeds made up a relatively large proportion of the diet (48%), the highest value recorded for any titi species, but it was unclear if this reflected a dietary specialization. Some authors have suggested that the greater consumption of seeds is a characteristic of species in the torquatus group. One study showed that White-chested Titis tend to prey on seeds in relatively hard-shelled fruits.

Breeding. The White-chested Titi forms monogamous breeding pairs, and the male provides parental care by carrying the single offspring. A birth peak in January has been reported for White-chested Titis in Colombia.

Activity patterns. The White-chested Titi is diurnal and arboreal. In one study group in Colombia, behavior patterns were typical oftitis, with 54% of time spentresting, 23% moving, and 18% foraging and feeding, with the remaining 5% dedicated mostly to social behavior such as grooming, play, and infant care.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Home ranges of five groups of White-chested Titis in Colombia were 9-22 ha. Mean group size was 3-5 individuals at one site, with a maximum size of five individuals. Despite the typical territorial dueting behavior of the White-chested Titi, home range overlap of up to 40% has been reported. Social groups are typically formed by a breeding pair and their immature offspring, although three adults were observed in one group in Colombia, possibly reflecting delayed dispersal of a mature offspring, as seen in some other species oftitis.

Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix II. Classified as Least Concern on The [UCN Red List. The White-chested Titi has the largest distribution of any of the torquatus group, and it is relatively isolated from impacts such as deforestation in most areas. It occurs in Serrania de Chiribiquete and El Tuparro national natural parks and Puinawal and Nukak national natural reserves in Colombia; Rio Branco and Pico da Neblina national parks and other protected areas, such as Mucajai Biological Reserve and Caracarai Ecological Station, in Brazil; and Canaima National Park and La Paragua Forest Reserve in Venezuela.

Bibliography. Alvarez & Heymann (2012), Bicca-Marques & Heymann (2013), Bodini (1989), Bodini & Pérez-Hernandez (1987), Casado et al. (2007), Defler (1983, 1994a, 2004), Hernandez-Camacho & Cooper (1976), Hernandez-Camacho & Defler (1989), Hershkovitz (1988, 1990), Norconk (2011), Norconk, Sussman & Phillips-Conroy (1996), Palacios & Rodriguez (2013), Palacios et al. (1997), van Roosmalen et al. (2002), Rudran & Eisenberg (1982), Veiga & Palacios (2008c).

Figures

On following pages: 20. Madidi Titi (Callicebus aureipalatii); 21. Medem'’s Titi (Callicebus medemi); 22. White-collared Titi (Callicebus torquatus); 23. White-chested Titi (Callicebus lugens); 24. Yellow-handed Titi (Callicebus lucifen; 25. Rio Purus Titi (Callicebus purinus); 26. Rio Jurué Collared Titi (Callicebus regulus); 27. Black-fronted Titi (Callicebus nigrifrons); 28. Masked Titi (Callicebus personatus); 29. Southern Bahian Titi (Callicebus melanochir); 30. Blond Titi (Callicebus barbarabrownae); 31. Coimbra-Filho's Titi (Callicebus coimbral).

Distribution. S Venezuela (S of the Rio Orinoco, between the Rio Caura to the W and the Rio Caroni to the E in Bolivar State, and S of the Rio Ventuari in Amazonas State), E Colombia (lowlands N of the rios Vaupés and Caqueta as far N as the Rio Tomo, a left bank tributary of the Orinoco), and NW Brazil (N of the Negro/Uaupés river system and W of the Rio Branco).