The bearded sakis are two species of New World monkeys, classified in the genus Chiropotes. They live in northern South America, with a range extending into parts of southern Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guyana and northern and central Brazil.

Bearded sakis differ from the closely related sakis of genus Pithecia by a pronounced beard, a tuft of hair that extends from its jaw, down its throat to the top of its chest, and is strongly pronounced particularly in the males. The tail is long and hairy, and is used for balance and not grasping. Bearded sakis reach from 32 to 51 cm in size and a weigh from 2 to 4 kg.

Like many New World monkeys, bearded sakis are diurnal and arboreal. They inhabit tropical rain forests, usually in the crowns of tree. They move on all four by the branches, spending most of the day searching for food. At the night they sleep clasped to thicker branches, never spending successive nights in the same tree. Bearded sakis live together in groups of approximately 18 to 30 animals. Within the group they communicate with bird-like twitter and high whistles. Sometimes they mingle with other primates such as capuchin and squirrel monkeys.

Fruits form the main part of the diet of the bearded sakis, but they also eat nuts, buds, leaves, insects and small vertebrates.

Once a year (usually in early autumn or late summer) the female bears a single offspring after a 5 month gestation. After about three months it begins to explore its environment independently and on it is briefly cured. Bearded sakis reach full maturity at 4 years of age. Their life expectancy is approximately 15 years.

Classification

• Genus Chiropotes
  • Black Bearded Saki, Chiropotes satanas
    • Chiropotes satanas satanas
    • Chiropotes satanas chiropotes
    • Chiropotes satanas utahickae
  • White-nosed Saki, Chiropotes albinasus