Magdalena S. Svensson1,2, Sam Shanee1,3,4, Noga Shanee3,4, Flavia B. Bannister13 , Laura Cervera5,6, Giuseppe Donati1, Maren Huck7,8, Leandro Jerusalinsky94 , Cecilia P. Juarez8,10, Angela Maldonado11, Jesus Martinez Mollinedo125 , Pedro G. Méndez-Carvajal13, Miguel A. Molina Argandoña14, Antonietta D. Mollo Vino146 , KAI Nekaris1,2, Mika Peck15, Jennifer Rey-Goyeneche1, Denise Spaan167 , Vincent Nijman1,2 |
ABSTRACT 47 Night monkeys (Aotus spp.) are traded internationally, primarily legally for the 48 biomedical industry. We present a quantitative analysis of this trade from all nine range 49 countries, over four decades, and compare domestic legislation to CITES regulations. 50 Night monkeys were exported from eight of the nine habitat countries, totalling 5,379 51 live individuals and 7,099 specimens, with trade of live individuals declining over time. 52 In terms of species the most commonly traded was Aotus nancymaae (present in Brazil, 53 Colombia, Peru) followed by A. vociferans (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru) and A. 54 zonalis (Colombia, Panama). There was no significant correlation between levels of 55 trade and species’ geographic range size or the number of countries in which a species 56 occurs. Five countries have legislation that meet CITES’ requirements for 57 implementation, whereas the other four countries’ legislation showed deficiencies. 58 Research conducted in Colombia, Peru and Brazil suggests significant cross-border 59 trade not captured in official international trade registers. Although international trade 60 diminished, current trends suggest that populations of rarer species may be under 61 unsustainable pressure. Further research is needed to quantify real trade numbers 62 occurring between habitat countries. KEY WORDS: Aotus; CITES; douroucoulis; domestic legislation; malaria research; 65 Neotropics; owl monkeys |