CONSERVATION STATUS
CITES: all Appendix II (http://www.cites.org)
IUCN Red List: A. l.
lemurinus (Colombia, Panama)- VU B1+2c, C2a; A. l.
griseimembra (Colombia)- EN B1+2abcde; A. l.
brumbacki (Colombia)- VU B1+2c, A. l. zonalis
(Panama)- DD; A. hershkovitzi- Least Concern; A.
trivirgatus- Least Concern; A. vociferans- Least Concern;
A. miconax (Peru)- VU A2cd; A. nancymaae- Least
Concern; A. nigriceps- Least Concern; A. azarae
subspecies- Least Concern (http://www.redlist.org)
Aotus azarae boliviensis
The majority of Aotus species are of least concern (LC) because they
are widespread and abundant and are not threatened by extinction, but
some have an increased or very high risk of extinction. Those species
that are of concern are threatened in Colombia, Panama, Ecuador, and
Peru, mostly because of rapid rates of habitat destruction in these
countries and existing subpopulations with few mature adults. The
problem is even further compounded by the fact that the taxonomy of
the entire genus is debated and not fully understood. Geographical
distributions of each species in Colombia need to be ascertained
according to one taxonomic model before assigning conservation status to
each species (Defler et al. 2003). Censuses and research on
distribution are necessary for the species in Colombia and Panama as
their abundance is not well understood. What is known about the
habitats in which they live is that human habitat use is increasing as
civil unrest plagues the country and there are no areas of enforced
protection (Defler et al. 2003). Categorization by the IUCN, given the
apparent lack of published data on conservation issues, general biology,
and ecology of some of these species, is undertaken by the Primate
Specialist Group, a panel of primate experts compiled to assess and
evaluate the conservation status of all species of primates. These
experts meet to assess the status of primates worldwide and the
resulting classification is often the result of the judgment of an
individual Specialist Group member, not because there is widespread
information about the species (Hilton-Taylor 2000). The status of
Aotus is a good example of how classification is assigned in
the most prudent way possible by the Primate Specialist Group even in
the absence of species-specific data.
A. l. lemurinus and A. l. brumbacki are both
vulnerable (VU B1+2c, C2a and VU B1+2c, respectively) and facing a
high risk of extinction in the wild in the medium-term future because
the extent of their occurrences are estimated to be less than 20,000
km2 (1931 mi2) or the areas of occupancy are less than
2000 km2 (193 mi2). A. l. lemurinus has a population
estimated to number less than 10,000 mature individuals, which is declining,
with no subpopulation estimated to contain more than 1000 individuals. The area
of occupancy and extent of occurrence of A.
l. brumbacki are continuing to decline in area, extent and quality
of habitat as well.
A. l. griseimembra is endangered (EN B1+2abcde) and
facing a very high risk of extinction in
the wild in the near future because the extent of occurrence is
estimated to be less than 5000 km2 or the area of occupancy
is less than 500 km2 and is severely fragmented or known to
exist at no more than five locations. Furthermore, estimates indicate a
continuing decline in the extent of occurrence, area of occupancy, area,
extent, and quality of habitat, number of locations or subpopulations,
and number of mature individuals.
There is inadequate information about A. l. zonalis to make a
direct or indirect assessment of its risk of extinction.
Because it is data deficient (DD), this does not
mean it is either at risk or not at risk but that more research is
necessary to understand its geographical distribution and estimated
population in the wild as well as potential dangers to the subspecies.
In Peru, A. miconax is vulnerable (VU A2cd) and facing a high risk of extinction in the
wild because the population size has been reduced more than 30%
over the last 10 years (or three generations, whichever is longer) and
the causes of the reduction have not ceased. This reduction in
population has been recognized by a decline in the area of occupancy,
extent of occurrence, and quality of habitat and by levels of
exploitation.
The international trade of all owl monkeys is regulated under Appendix
II of CITES to control exploitation of wild populations.
LINKS TO MORE ABOUT CONSERVATION
CONSERVATION INFORMATION
CONSERVATION NEWS
ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN Aotus CONSERVATION
Content last modified: July 18, 2005
Written by Kristina Cawthon Lang. Reviewed by Eduardo Fernandez-Duque.
Cite this page as:
Cawthon Lang KA. 2005 July 18. Primate Factsheets: Owl monkey (Aotus) Conservation. <http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/factsheets/entry/owl_monkey/cons>. Accessed 2008 September 6.
