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Primates
Peru is home to 32 species of primates,
distributed in three main families which classify the primates
of the New World: Callitrichids,
which include species such as pichicos and
leoncillos; Callimiconids,
represented by a single species (Goeldi's false pichico);
and Cebids, the largest family, which includes
squirrel monkeys, spider monkeys,
howler monkeys, machin,
tocon, musmuqui and choro
amongst others.
Monkeys found in the Americas
stand out from those found in the Old World in a number of
physical traits which are the result of adapting to the tropical
environments where they live. The most obvious and visible
feature is the shape of the nose (monkeys
in the Americas have long noses, with wide nasal openings
on each side and a curved point pointing downwards, while
those in the Old World have flat, broad, egg-shaped noses.
In northern Peru, the white machin
or machin blanco inhabits some parts of the western slopes
of the northern Andes (departments of Piura
and Tumbes), while the tumbes howler
monkey lives exclusively in the Pacific Tropical
Rainforest.
Remember to read our "Recommendations"
for your trip to Peru, as well as other important issues in
our "Tips"
section.
If you need any details or want more information, please
use our "Contact
us" orange
form.
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