Taxonomy, Phylogeny and Habitat Suitability of Bearded Sakis (Chiropotes, Lesson 1840)

Stafford, Maria

Abstract

Pitheciinae are a subfamily of South American monkeys. They possess dental specialisations that allow them to break open the hard pericarps of fruits, making them ecological seed predators. The genera that make up this subfamily are Cacajao (Lesson, 1840), Chiropotes (Lesson, 1840), and Pithecia (Demarest, 1804). Pithiciinae as a whole are not well understood, with only a few studies being done on their phylogeny and distribution. This study focuses on the genus Chiropotes. The overall aim of this study is to review their taxonomy and find information that can shed some light on uncertainties within their lineage. This was completed through a literature review of the species taxonomy, compiling the history of their classifications and how these have changed and continue to be argued. A phylogenetic tree was also produced using all available cytb data for Chiropotes available on NCBI. The findings revealed some intriguing developments and bolstered the current debate over species status. The molecular analysis overall uncovered that Chiropotes albinasus is sister to all other Chiropotes spp. and that Chiropotes utahickae and Chiropotes satanas are sister species. The current confusion between Chiropotes chiropotes, Chiropotes sagulatus, and Chiropotes israelita was seen consistently through my tree, with no clear distinction being made between each species and their branching. I have also plotted the distribution of Chiropotes and assessed their habitat suitability. Within this, I shed some light on which bioclimatic variables most affect each species. I then link this to their diet, current deforestation rates, and where protected areas are found in relation to these assessments to provide conservation suggestions for the future. Chiropotes spp. have a patchy distribution and are found in dispersed populations throughout their home range. There is concern for deforestation and habitat fragmentation within the species distribution, with the most suitable habitat areas being found in areas with high habitat loss. Studies on Chiropotes distribution, survival in fragmented habitats, and their population status need to be prioritised.

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Nov 2, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 28, 2023
• Award Date: Oct 27, 2023