Coppery Titi (Plecturocebus cupreus) lives in tropical rainforest across South America. It feeds on fruits and insects. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Coppery Titi
- Coppery titis can sustain a predator alarm for an extraordinary length of time, with the longest recorded call lasting over 40 minutes. The mobbing behaviour begins when a male emits an alarm call, prompting other group members to join within two to three minutes and create a surrounding chorus. While the group vocalises, they move sporadically, lash their tails and sway their heads, a display thought to deter attacks.
- Coppery titis produce vocalisations that can be heard up to one kilometre away, and the varied frequencies and pitches enable researchers to distinguish individual monkeys in the soundscape. Their daily duets, lasting up to five minutes, consist of alternating bellowing and panting calls that reinforce territorial boundaries.
- During lactation a female coppery titi dramatically boosts her protein intake, consuming nearly twice as many insects as when not nursing. This dietary shift supports the higher protein demand of milk production. Overall, the species' diet is dominated by fruit, which occupies about 75% of feeding time, while the remaining 25% includes bamboo, leaves and occasional insects.
- Coppery titis sometimes engage in a brief self-medication ritual using a leaf of Psychotria. They chew the leaf and then rub it on their abdomen for about five minutes, a behaviour that is noted as rare. The plant is valued in traditional medicine and possesses anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties, which may help the monkeys ward off microbes. This occasional fur-rubbing likely provides a health benefit during periods of infection risk.
- Pairs of coppery titis perform a coordinated duet each morning, beginning at or just before sunrise along the edges of their territories. The performance can last up to five minutes, starting with low moans and concluding with a honk, while the male and female alternate bellowing and panting calls. Neighboring pairs answer these songs, reinforcing territorial boundaries, and the duets are omitted when it rains but increase on overcast days.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeSouth America
HabitatTropical rainforest
DietFruits and insects
About the Coppery Titi
In the lush canopies of the South American rainforest, the Coppery Titi monkey weaves a delicate path, its agile form darting effortlessly between the slender branches of its arboreal realm. With a soft, copper-hued coat glistening in the dappled light, this diminutive primate navigates its surroundings with a quiet confidence, its large, expressive eyes drinking in the vibrant tapestry of its forest home. As it moves, the Titi's long, slender tail streams behind it, a banner of balance and poise in the midst of the forest's swirling chaos.
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