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owl monkey
noun
: any of several small nocturnal monkeys (genus Aotus) of Central and South American tropical forests that have round heads, large eyes, and densely furred bodies
called also douroucouli
Examples of owl monkey in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Indeed, a study published in March 2014 in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B presented genetic evidence that Azara's owl monkey pairs remain monogamous—the first genetic confirmation for any nonhuman primate.
—Blake Edgar, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2016
Mating bonds between Azara's owl monkeys last an average of nine years, and monkeys that stay with the same partner achieve greater reproductive success—the end game of evolution under any mating system.
—Blake Edgar, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2016
South America's Azara's owl monkey may offer some insight into how paternal care would reinforce monogamy.
—Blake Edgar, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2016
The northern owl monkey, a wide-eyed, nocturnal critter, has particularly complex facial coloration.
—Jennifer Abbasi, Discover Magazine, 27 Feb. 2013
An owl monkey, with a brain twice as large as a marmoset, actually has twice as many neurons — whereas doubling the size of a rodent brain often yields only 20 to 30 percent more neurons.
—Douglas Fox, Discover Magazine, 20 Aug. 2018
To photograph owl monkeys in the treetops of Argentina, the cameraman used infrared light to illuminate the foliage.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 25 Feb. 2020
After about 20 minutes, the spider monkeys were replaced by a small owl monkey.
—Tessa Duvall, The Courier-Journal, 22 Feb. 2020
While humans average seven hours, other primates range from just under nine hours (blue-eyed black lemurs) to 17 (owl monkeys).
—Bridget Alex, Discover Magazine, 1 Jan. 2019
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Word History
First Known Use
1877, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near owl monkey
Cite this Entry
“Owl monkey.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/owl%20monkey. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
More from Merriam-Webster on owl monkey
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about owl monkey
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