Ornate Titi (Plecturocebus ornatus) lives in tropical rainforest across South America. It feeds on fruits and insects. Its conservation status is Vulnerable.
Fascinating facts about the Ornate Titi
- The ornate titi is the tiniest member of the Pitheciidae family, a group that also contains the much larger uakaris and saki monkeys. As a member of this family it belongs to the New World monkeys and is found only in eastern Colombia. Its range is isolated, lying north of the Amazonas-Solimes-Napo axis and at least 350 km from the nearest relative, the white-tailed titi. Unlike many arboreal titis, it spends most of its time on the ground.
- The ornate titi occupies a narrow strip of eastern Colombia, extending from the department of Cundinamarca northward to the lower Upa and Meta rivers and southward into Meta along the foothills of the Cordillera Oriental and the Sierra de la Macarena to the Guayabero and upper Guaviare rivers. Within this area it prefers the tropical and subtropical forest layers, especially dense thickets, thorny underbrush and water-logged zones.
- Like other members of the moloch group, the ornate titi can endure seasonal flooding and is unusually tolerant of habitat disturbance, often flourishing in forest patches altered by human activity. It is regularly recorded in highly disturbed sites, where it can maintain populations despite changes in vegetation.
- Seventy percent of the ornate titi's diet is fruit, while leaves make up 26% and insects less than one percent. It favours unripe fruit from small trees because those fruits are more concentrated and easier to exploit than larger, mature ones. The monkey also supplements its meals with tiny insects under 2 cm, such as moths and ants, and can even snatch flying insects in mid-air.
- The ornate titi spends roughly 60% of each day sleeping, a proportion far higher than that of the white-tailed titi. It chooses sleeping sites in vine tangles on small branches, usually at least 15 m above ground, providing safety from ground predators. When awake, its daily activity averages about 11.5 hours, of which feeding occupies around 2.7 hours split between morning and evening sessions. This extensive rest period reflects its largely herbivorous lifestyle.
Sources
Every fact above was checked against these pages, and kept only where one of them states it.
At a glance
RangeSouth America
HabitatTropical rainforest
DietFruits and insects
About the Ornate Titi
In the lush canopies of the Andean cloud forest, the Ornate Titi monkey navigates its domain with effortless agility, its slender frame weaving through the dense foliage with a gentle elegance. As it moves, the dappled light filtering through the leaves dances across its soft, grey-brown fur, illuminating the subtle nuances of its expressive face, a testament to the intricate social bonds that govern its daily life. With its large, round eyes watchful and alert, this vulnerable species embodies a quiet resilience, its very existence a poignant reminder of the delicate balance that pervades its fragile, threatened world.
Hear the Ornate Titi, and 4,400+ more
Real recorded sounds, 11 nature games and a free Daily 5, 1v1 quiz duels, conservation wins and a safe Kids mode. Free on Feravox.
