Red uakari monkeys, also known as bald uakaris, are small new world monkeys. New world monkey refers to the primates native to Central and South America. Uakaris are known for their bald heads, a unique feature among primates. The most striking feature is their bright red face, which is a result of thin unpigmented  skin allowing blood vessels to show through. It can also be an indication to their health. If pale, it can be a sign of stress or illness in the monkeys. Their bodies are covered in long, shaggy fur, varying in color from reddish brown to orange. They have very short tails and an average body length, including their heads, of around 18 inches, for males and 17 inches for females.

Red uakaris live in the Amazon rainforest of South America, specifically in the Várzea (floodplain) forests of western Brazil and eastern Peru. They inhabit the tropical, low -lying, seasonally flooded forests along the edges of rivers and lakes. They are primarily arboreal, spending most of their time in the trees and have strong limbs, adapted for leaping from branch to branch. Despite being arboreal, they are also fantastic swimmers, which is crucial for navigating the flooded plains. 

Red uakaris live in groups called troops, which can consist of multiple adult males and females, along with their offspring and juveniles. These groups are known to be fission-fusion groups , meaning they can split and merge depending on resources and other factors . They typically form groups 10-30 individuals, but these can sometimes reach nearly 100 members. When foraging, they often break up into groups of 1-10. Bald uakaris live a quiet, but social life. They use vocalizations, facial expressions, pheromones and body language to communicate. Their unique, hairless face is an advantage to their facial features and allows for a range of facial expressions to convey emotions.  Red uakaris also use various body postures and movements to communicate within the group. They defend their territories through shrieking and body language. However, it’s not common for red  uakaris to be aggressive. They are playful animals. They often engage in games and grooming socially, which can be used to maintain relationships.

When it comes to breaking off into groups for foraging, Bald uakaris are primarily frugivorous, meaning they consume a diet consisting of fruits. However their diet also consists of seeds, such as Brazil nuts, which red uakaris have adapted cracking open . As well as, leaves and insects when fruit is scarce and hard find.They have also been observed to consume certain types of flowers.  

Bald  uakaris primarily face threats from human activities. They are hunted and used for bate and food , primarily in Peru and Brazil because they are easily accessible from boats and canoes. Natural predators include snakes, birds of prey and larger monkeys. Beacuse uakaris have a slow reproduction rate  (one infant every two years) it makes it difficult to recover from population losses

Mating Habits The Red Uakari Monkey is monogamous and reproduces every 2 years. The Red Uakari Monkey population is declining, and they have been placed on the vulnerable species list.

Diet The Red Uakari Monkey diet includes leaves, fruit, insects, seeds, and small animals.