Disappearing in the Night: An Overview on Trade and Legislation of Night Monkeys in South and Central America

Abstract

The international trade in night monkeys (Aotus spp.), found throughout Central and South America, has been regulated by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) since 1975. We present a quantitative analysis of this trade from all 9 range countries, over 4 decades, and compare domestic legislation to CITES regulations. Night monkeys were exported from 8 of the 9 habitat countries, totalling 5,968 live individuals and 7,098 specimens, with trade of live individuals declining over time. In terms of species, the most commonly traded was Aotus nancymaae (present in Brazil, Colombia, Peru) followed by A. vociferans (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru) and A. zonalis (Colombia, Panama). There was no significant correlation between levels of trade and species' geographic range size or the number of countries in which a species occurs. Five countries have legislation that meets CITES requirements for implementation, whereas the other 4 countries' legislation showed deficiencies. Research conducted in Colombia, Peru, and Brazil suggests significant cross-border trade not captured in official international trade registers. Although international trade has diminished, current trends suggest that populations of rarer species may be under unsustainable pressure. Further research is needed to quantify real trade numbers occurring between habitat countries.

The species dilemma and its potential impact on enforcing wildlife trade laws

“…Endangered Species Act (ESA), which regulates, among other activities, national and international trade in threatened and endangered species involving U.S. jurisdiction; the list includes non‐native species (https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/; note that “threatened” and “endangered” status in ESA also differs from that of IUCN, see ESA definitions at https://www.fws.gov/endangered/laws-policies/). Finally, many primates may receive protections under laws within their range countries . Importantly, legislation related to conservation and wildlife trade generally defines protections and regulations based on species names (or in some cases subspecies names).…”

“…Finally, as mentioned earlier, trade in newly recognized species might not be appropriately regulated. In cases of taxonomic splits, the impact of wildlife trade on previously recognized widely distributed species might be minimal, but newly recognized species with smaller populations could be (or could have been) more severely impacted, as has been suggested for the genus Aotus . Aotus (night monkeys) has undergone several taxonomic revisions, from which one species is now often recognized as 11 .…”

“…In cases of taxonomic splits, the impact of wildlife trade on previously recognized widely distributed species might be minimal, but newly recognized species with smaller populations could be (or could have been) more severely impacted, as has been suggested for the genus Aotus . Aotus (night monkeys) has undergone several taxonomic revisions, from which one species is now often recognized as 11 . Legal trade in Aotus species (CITES appendix II; nine species recognized) is relatively high among primates and might impart unsustainable pressure on rarer species .…”

“…28,29 Aotus (night monkeys) has undergone several taxonomic revisions, from which one species is now often recognized as 11. 29 Legal trade in Aotus species (CITES appendix II; nine species recognized) is relatively high among primates and might impart unsustainable pressure on rarer species. 29 Importantly, it is difficult to actually assess the impact of trade on Aotus species, in part, because not all species are currently recognized by CITES and not all traded animals (legal and illegal) are identified to species.…”

“…Finally, many primates may receive protections under laws within their range countries. [27][28][29] Importantly, legislation related to conservation and wildlife trade generally defines protections and regulations based on species names (or in some cases subspecies names). Among primates, trade regulations differ across species.…”