New Monkey Species Found in Amazonia

In a part of the Amazon being rapidly deforested, a monkey new to science has been found. A type of marmoset, Mico munduruku, named after the indigenous group with which it shares habitat, lives between the Tapajós and Jamanxim rivers in the Brazilian state of Parà.  It has distinct white tail, white forearms, feet and hands with a yellowish pelage on the elbows and saddle, and was described by researchers in the journal PeerJ after ten field studies to the region. Species distribution of marmosets in Amazonia are currently not well understood and the region between the two rivers poorly studied. Consequently its conservation status is data deficient.

White tails among South American primates are very rare.  Only one other species, the white saddle back tamarin, has this characteristic. To confirm that M. munduruku is a separate species, researchers treked in the forest and canoed rivers to observe troops attracted by the recording of marmoset long calls.  Five specimens were taken in the field under permit and muscle tissue genetically analyzed in the lab. The researchers stated in their journal article that, "more studies are urgently needed in order to generate the information necessary for science driven conservation initiatives".   Munduruku marmosets live entirely within the arc of deforestation of the Amazon rain forest.  They may not survive man's wanton destruction of their home to allow scientists to study them further.