Editing Night monkey (section)

==Ecology==
Night monkeys can be found in [[Panama]], [[Colombia]], [[Ecuador]], [[Peru]], [[Brazil]], [[Paraguay]], [[Argentina]], [[Bolivia]], and [[Venezuela]]. The species that live at higher elevations and colder latitudes tend to have thicker fur.<ref>{{Citation |last=Perea-Rodríguez |first=Juan Pablo |title=What Owl Monkeys (Aotus spp.) Tell Us About the Dynamics Between Thermo-Energetics and Organismal Biology |date=2023 |work=Owl Monkeys: Biology, Adaptive Radiation, and Behavioral Ecology of the Only Nocturnal Primate in the Americas |pages=301–321 |editor-last=Fernandez-Duque |editor-first=Eduardo |url=https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-13555-2_10 |access-date=2025-03-28 |place=Cham |publisher=Springer International Publishing |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-3-031-13555-2_10 |isbn=978-3-031-13555-2 |last2=de la Iglesia |first2=Horacio |last3=Fernandez-Duque |first3=Eduardo|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Night monkeys can live in forests undisturbed by humans ([[primary forest]]) as well as in forests that are recovering from human logging efforts ([[secondary forest]]).<ref name=Lang>{{cite web|author=Cawthon Lang KA|date=2005-07-18|url=http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/factsheets/entry/owl_monkey/taxon|title=Primate Factsheets: Owl monkey (''Aotus'') Taxonomy, Morphology, & Ecology|access-date=2012-07-25}}</ref>

=== Distribution ===
A primary distinction between red-necked and gray-necked night monkeys is spatial distribution. Gray-necked night monkeys (''Aotus lemurinus'' group) are found north of the Amazon River, while the red-necked group (''Aotus azare'' group) are localized south of the Amazon River.<ref name="Ferndandez-Duque-2012">{{Cite journal|last=Ferndandez- Duque|first=E|date=2012|title=Owl Monkeys ''Aotus'' spp. in the wild and in captivity|journal=International Zoo Yearbook|volume=46|pages=80–94|doi=10.1111/j.1748-1090.2011.00156.x|hdl=11336/101658|hdl-access=free}}</ref> Red-necked night monkeys are found throughout various regions of the Amazon rainforest of South America, with some variation occurring between the four species. [[Nancy Ma's night monkey]] occurs in both flooded and unflooded tropical rainforest regions of Peru, preferring moist swamp and mountainous areas.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Carrillo-Bilbao|first1=Gabriel|last2=Fiore|first2=Anthony Di|last3=Fernandez-Duque|first3=Eduardo|date=2008-04-01|title=Behavior, Ecology, and Demography of ''Aotus vociferans'' in Yasuní National Park, Ecuador|journal=International Journal of Primatology|language=en|volume=29|issue=2|pages=421–431|doi=10.1007/s10764-008-9244-y|s2cid=10756899|issn=1573-8604|hdl=11336/104477|hdl-access=free}}</ref> This species has been observed nesting in regions of the Andes<ref name="Shanee-2015">{{Cite journal|last1=Shanee|first1=Sam|last2=Allgas|first2=Nestor|last3=Shanee|first3=Noga|last4=Campbell|first4=Nicola|date=2015-03-26|title=Distribution, ecological niche modelling and conservation assessment of the Peruvian Night Monkey (Mammalia: Primates: Aotidae: ''Aotus miconax'' Thomas, 1927) in northeastern Peru, with notes on the distributions of ''Aotus'' spp.|journal=Journal of Threatened Taxa|volume=7|issue=3|pages=6947–6964|doi=10.11609/jott.o4184.6947-64|issn=0974-7893|doi-access=free}}</ref> and has recently been introduced to Colombia, likely as a result of post-research release into the community.<ref name="Svensson-2016">{{Cite journal|last1=Svensson|first1=Magdalena S.|last2=Shanee|first2=Sam|last3=Shanee|first3=Noga|last4=Bannister|first4=Flavia B.|last5=Cervera|first5=Laura|last6=Donati|first6=Giuseppe|last7=Huck|first7=Maren|last8=Jerusalinsky|first8=Leandro|last9=Juarez|first9=Cecilia P.|date=2016|title=Disappearing in the Night: An Overview on Trade and Legislation of Night Monkeys in South and Central America|journal=Folia Primatologica|volume=87|issue=5|pages=332–348|doi=10.1159/000454803|pmid=28095375|s2cid=21924164|issn=0015-5713|url=http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/66059/1/Svensson%20et%20al%202016_revised.pdf}}</ref> The [[black-headed night monkey]] is also found mainly in the Peruvian Amazon (central and upper Amazon), however its range extends throughout Brazil and Bolivia<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Anderson|first=S|date=1997|title=Mammals of Bolivia, taxonomy and distribution|journal=Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History|volume=231}}</ref> to the base of the Andes mountain chain.<ref name="Hershkovitz-1983">{{Cite journal|last=Hershkovitz|first=Philip|date=1983|title=Two new species of night monkeys, genus ''Aotus'' (Cebidae, platyrrhini): A preliminary report on ''Aotus'' taxonomy|journal=American Journal of Primatology|volume=4|issue=3|pages=209–243|doi=10.1002/ajp.1350040302|pmid=31991954|s2cid=84562795|issn=0275-2565}}</ref> Night monkeys such like the black-headed night monkey, generally inhabit cloud forests; areas with consistent presence of low clouds with a high mist and moisture content which allows for lush and rich vegetation to grow year round, providing excellent food and lodging sources. The [[Peruvian night monkey]], like Nancy Ma's night monkey, is endemic to the Peruvian Andes however it is found at a higher elevation, approximately {{Convert|800|-|2400|m|ft}} above sea level and therefore exploits different niches of this habitat.<ref name="Hershkovitz-1983" /> The distribution of ''A. azare'', extends further towards the Atlantic Ocean, spanning Argentina, Bolivia and the drier, south western regions of Paraguay,<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Fernandez-Duque|first1=Eduardo|last2=Di Fiore|first2=Anthony|last3=Carrillo-Bilbao|first3=Gabriel|date=April 2008|title=Behavior, Ecology, and Demography of ''Aotus vociferans'' in Yasuní National Park, Ecuador|journal=International Journal of Primatology|volume=29|issue=2|pages=421–431|doi=10.1007/s10764-008-9244-y|s2cid=10756899|issn=0164-0291|hdl=11336/104477|hdl-access=free}}</ref> however unlike the other red-necked night monkey species, it is not endemic to Brazil.

=== Sleep sites ===
During the daylight hours, night monkeys rest in shaded tree areas. These species have been observed exploiting four different types of tree nests, monkeys will rest in; holes formed in the trunks of trees, in concave sections of branches surrounded by creepers and epiphytes, in dense areas of epiphyte, climber and vine growth and in areas of dense foliage.<ref name="Aquino-1986">{{Cite journal|last1=Aquino|first1=Rolando|last2=Encarnación|first2=Filomeno|date=1986|title=Characteristics and use of sleeping sites in ''Aotus'' (Cebidae: Primates) in the Amazon lowlands of Peru|journal=American Journal of Primatology|volume=11|issue=4|pages=319–331|doi=10.1002/ajp.1350110403|pmid=31979438|s2cid=84650076|issn=0275-2565}}</ref> These sleeping sites provide protection from environmental stressors such as heavy rain, sunlight and heat. Sleeping sites are therefore carefully chosen based upon tree age, density of trees, availability of space for the group, ability of site to provide protection, ease of access to the site and availability of site with respect to daily routines.<ref name="Aquino-1986" /> While night monkeys are an arboreal species, nests have not been observed in higher strata of the rainforest ecosystem, rather a higher density of nests were recorded at low-mid vegetation levels.<ref name="Aquino-1986" /> Night monkeys represent a territorial species, territories are defended by conspecifics through the use of threatening and agonistic behaviours.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Bates|first=Brian C.|date=September 1970|title=Territorial behavior in primates: A review of recent field studies|journal=Primates|volume=11|issue=3|pages=271–284|doi=10.1007/bf01793893|s2cid=46168799|issn=0032-8332}}</ref> Ranges between night monkey species often do overlap and result in interspecific aggressions such as vocalizing and chasing which may last up to an hour.<ref name="Ferndandez-Duque-2012" />

=== Diet ===
Night monkeys are primarily [[frugivorous]], as fruits are easily distinguished through the use of olfactory cues,<ref name="Fernández-Duque-2010"/> but leaf and insect consumption has also been observed in the cathemeral night monkey species ''A. azare''.<ref name="Ferndandez-Duque-2012" /> A study conducted by Wolovich et al., indicated that juveniles and females were much better at catching both crawling and flying insects than adult males.<ref name="Wolovich-2007">{{Cite journal|last1=Wolovich|first1=Christy Kaitlyn|last2=Evans|first2=Sian|date=December 2007|title=Sociosexual Behavior and Chemical Communication of ''Aotus nancymaae''|journal=International Journal of Primatology|volume=28|issue=6|pages=1299–1313|doi=10.1007/s10764-007-9228-3|s2cid=38645815|issn=0164-0291}}</ref> In general, the technique used by night monkeys in insect capturing is to use the palm of the hand to flatten a prey insect against a tree branch and then proceed to consume the carcass.<ref name="Wolovich-2007" /> During the winter months or when food sources are reduced, night monkeys have also been observed foraging on flowers such as ''Tabebuia heptaphylla'', however this does not represent a primary food source.<ref name="Ferndandez-Duque-2012" />

=== Reproduction ===
In night monkeys, mating occurs infrequently, however females are fertile year-round, with reproductive cycles range from 13 to 25 days.<ref name="Dixson-1982">{{Cite journal|last=Dixson|first=A. F.|date=January 1982|title=Some observations on the reproductive physiology and behaviour of the Owl monkey in captivity|journal=International Zoo Yearbook|volume=22|issue=1|pages=115–119|doi=10.1111/j.1748-1090.1982.tb02017.x|issn=0074-9664}}</ref> The gestation period for night monkey is approximately 117– 159 days but varies from species to species. Birthing season extends from September to March and is species-dependent, with one offspring being produced per year; however, in studies conducted in captivity, twins were observed.<ref name="Dixson-1982" /> Night monkeys reach puberty at a relatively young age, between 7 and 11 months, and most species attain full sexual maturity by the time they reach 2 years of age. ''A. azare'' represents an exception reaching sexual maturity by the age of 4.<ref name="Dixson-1982" />