Three-striped night monkey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Three-striped night monkey |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Aotus
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| Species: |
trivirgatus
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| Three-striped night monkey range | |
The three-striped night monkey (Aotus trivirgatus) is a cool animal also known as the northern night monkey or northern owl monkey. It's one of several types of owl monkeys. You can find these monkeys living in Venezuela and the northern parts of central Brazil.
About the Three-striped Night Monkey
For a long time, until 1983, all owl monkeys were thought to be just different kinds of Aotus trivirgatus. People used to call all of them "douroucouli" monkeys. Today, the name "douroucouli" is sometimes used only for the three-striped night monkey. But some people still use it for all owl monkeys, or for a group of them that includes this species.
What They Look Like
Like other owl monkeys, the three-striped night monkey lives in forests. These include amazing rain forests. This monkey is mostly black. It has cool white marks on its face that really stand out!
Their body can be about 27 to 48 centimeters long. That's about the length of a school ruler! Their tail is usually about the same length as their body. Adult monkeys can weigh up to 1 kilogram. That's like a small bag of sugar. They have very large eyes, which help them see in the dark.
What They Eat
These monkeys are most active on nights when the moon is bright. They use their big eyes to find food. They enjoy eating many different things. Their diet includes tasty fruits and nuts. They also munch on leaves. For protein, they hunt insects and other small creatures without backbones. Sometimes, they even find and eat birds' eggs.
Family Life
Three-striped night monkeys are very loyal. They form strong pairs that stay together for life. They only separate if one of the partners dies. These monkeys live in small family groups. The young monkeys stay with their parents. They live with them until they are about 3 or 4 years old. This is when they become old enough to have their own families.
Usually, a mother monkey gives birth to only one baby at a time. The baby grows inside the mother for a little over four months.
