Systematic History

The San Martin Titi Monkey, Callicebus oenanthe, was first described by Thomas in 1924, from a specimen collected at Moyobamba at 823m altitude. This specimen is nowadyas conserved at the British Museum. The only other localities from which the species was known until 2003 were Yuracyacu and Rio Seco, at roughly the same altitude (Hershkovitz, 1990).

The species was given a variety of vernacular names. One author used the name Isabelline titi monkey, later authors called the species the Rio Mayo titi monkey or the Andean titi monkey. However, as the species is not restricted to areas near the Rio Mayo, nor lives in the Andes, we prefer the use of the name San Martin titi monkey. This name reflects very well that the species is restricted to the San Martin department of north-eastern Peru.

Locally the species is know as Mono Tocón or Sugkamat.

The research of the Proyecto Mono Tocón resulted in the first detailed information on the geographic distribution of a titi monkey species.

Behaviour

Little is known about the behaviour of the San Martin titi monkey. Only two limited studies have been done on the species. As all species of titi monkeys, the San Martin titi monkey lives in small families of up to seven individuals. These families are consisted of a breeding pair with their offspring.