New Titi Monkey Species Discovered In Amazon

A newly discovered species of titi monkey purrs like a cat and looks like a leprechaun.Although it was first spotted in 1976 by biologist Martin Moynihan in the southern Caqueta province of Colombia, frequent armed conflict in the region has prevented scientists from being able to confirm its existence until now.
Although it was first spotted in 1976 by biologist Martin Moynihan in the southern Caqueta province of Colombia, frequent armed conflict in the region has prevented scientists from being able to confirm its existence until now.
“All of the babies purr like cats too,” Defler added. “When they feel very content they purr towards each other, and the ones we raised would purr to us.”

After years of wanting to go to the Caqueta region to search for the monkey, Defler was finally able to go in part because of a new government that has made the region safer, and in part because he met a biology student named Javier Garcia who was from the region, which also made it safer for them to go, Defler said. Conservation International provided funding for the project.

They spotted the monkey just a few days after they arrived in the region in August 2008. They returned to the region in 2009 to study the distribution of the species.

Defler hopes that the discovery will help lead to the creation of new preserves for the monkey. Garcia also plans to study the monkey for his master’s degree.