Fatal Attack of a Boa constrictoron a Bearded Saki (Chiropotes satanas utahicki)

摘要

Attacks by predators are significant events in the life history of any primate species [Stanford, 2002], but they are also very rare, and few, if any, records are available for most taxa [Cheney and Wrangham, 1987]. In the case of the Neotropical sakis (Pitheciinae), records are restricted to remains encountered in proximity to the nests of harpy eagles, Harpia harpyja [Rettig, 1978]. In addition, while there is an extensive literature on the predation of platyrrhine monkeys by raptors [Izor, 1985; Sherman, 1991; Julliot, 1994; Robinson, 1994; Vasquez and Heymann, 2001], recorded attacks by snakes are relatively rare [Chapman, 1986; Heymann, 1987; Corrêa and Coutinho, 1997; Tello et al., 2002; Perry et al., 2003]. Here, the fatal attack of a boa (Boa constrictor) on a bearded saki (Chiropotes satanas utahicki) is described from a site in south-eastern Brazilian Amazonia. It was also possible to conduct a partial autopsy on the victim, which provided information on its physical condition and insights into the cause of death.