Species Name: Crescens ignis
Common Name: Fire Crescent Monkey
Geographic Distribution: Crescens ignis are native to regions in the heart of the Amazon’s tropical rainforests. They live in highly arboreal where there are seasonal changes in rainfall and temperatures. According to Fragaszy (1950), with such a highly arboreal area these monkeys are able to “use all levels from the canopy to the understory, going to the ground to drink, forage or travel” (p. 1). These “New World Monkeys” are part of the Creschini subfamily and are closest related to their ancestors, the White-fronted Capuchins, or Cebus albifrons.
Physical Description: Fire Crescents are smaller primates that range in size between 7-11 lbs. Their name comes from their long and soft dark red-orange fur and a black spot on top of their heads in the shape of a rear-facing crescent. The Crescens ignis have a lighter orange belly that extends to the face with large forward-facing eyes and flat noses. Their heads and brains are large for their body and the ears are small, short and round. Sexual dimorphism occurs in this species where the males are bigger than the females (“Animal Diversity Web,” 2001). The males also have longer manes and slightly brighter colors. Crescens ignis have a long, slender bodies and limbs that are also exceptionally strong for jumping throughout the canopy and escaping predation. Physical Environment: Fire Crescents are commonly found in areas of Southeast Ecuador in the center of the Amazon. They require a diet of fruits, insects, plants, and nuts, which are all obtained in their vast tropical environment. Fresh water is accessible nearby on ground levels, since they always nest near water holes, streams, and springs (Boyd & Silk, 2015). Fruits are generally preferred over other foods with their favorite being figs. Crescens ignis spend most of their time in the lower layers of the trees and according to Boyd and Silk (2015), “Primates spend the majority of their time feeding, moving around their home ranges, and resting” (p. 130). Like any other tropical forest environment, the climate is hot and humid with an average temperature of 80F (27C) and can reach over 100F (38C) in the summers. Behavior: Because of predators that live in the lower levels of the rainforest, Crescens ignis make nests near the tops of the trees. …show more content…
What makes this primate unique is that, because of their large sized brain, they are a very intelligent. Their self-defense mechanisms show their abilities to think fast and make good decisions in any situation. Since Crescens ignis are a smaller species, they are easily preyed upon by a variety of Amazonian animals including snakes and crocodiles. Because of this, they have developed an advanced mechanism makes Fire Crescents less fearful of predators while in the lower canopy during the day. When threatened by a predator, they grab something nearby (usually stones, dirt, or branches) then use their strong limbs to jump up to 5 feet in the air to escape predation while throwing what they snatched at their predator for deterrence and distraction. Social Environment: Fire Crescents are diurnal and spend a portion of the day resting in close proximity to other resting group members, where their nests reside. Other parts of the day are spent low in the canopy gathering resources in groups, mating, socializing, playing, grooming and traveling. The amounts of time spent on either rest or activity varies on what time of the year it is, since they live in a seasonal region. Because there are limited resources during the dry season and it is harder to obtain foods and water, for example, the Fire Crescents spend more time active than at rest at this time of year (Boyd & Silk, 2015). When communicating with one another, the Fire Crescents use mostly hand signals, verbal calls, and warning screams. They have developed hand signals that help them, in addition to vocalization, communicate things such as if they have found food, to say hello and goodbye, for mating purposes, and many more. They also come into contact often with other monkey species and are very friendly. But, if another species is a threat, the males will