ABSTRACT
Owl monkeys have the potential to be a great model to accomplish a thorough integration of laboratory, zoo, and field research. The genus Aotus presents some distinctive features that make them of interest to researchers and the public, such as their nocturnal habits, their pair-living social organization, and the extensive involvement of males in parental care. However, given their small size, arboreal lifestyle, and nocturnality, field research combined with detailed observations and measurements of individuals housed in laboratory or captive settings are still needed to fully understand owl monkey’s biology. Following a brief review about the typical research involvement of Aotus species, we present some of the most relevant aspect of their natural history, including ecological features, social organization, and behavior of wild animals. Based on this information, we next describe the most common normal and abnormal behaviors observed in captivity, and proposed ways to maintain owl monkeys’ behavioral health in these settings. Ultimately, only with a comparative approach we will advance in our understanding of the evolutionary forces favoring the remarkable characteristics of this genus.
