Titi << tih TEE >> is a type of small South American monkey. Titis live in the tropical rain forests of the Amazon, in the Orinoco River Basin, and in eastern Brazil. Male and female titis are about the same size. They weigh about 21/4 pounds (1 kilogram) and have gray, reddish-brown, or black fur. Titis live in trees and occasionally come to the ground. They feed mainly on fruits but also eat many types of leaves and insects.
Titis live in family groups that consist of an adult male and female pair and their offspring. A family group uses many different calls to defend its territory against other titi groups. Titis have one breeding season each year. Both parents care for the newborn. At 2 to 3 years of age, a titi leaves its parents to start its own family.
Titi monkeys often demonstrate a curious social behavior called tail-twining. Two, three, or four titis sit on a branch and wrap their tails in a spiral. Titis exhibit this behavior while resting or sleeping.
People hunt many types of South American monkeys for food. However, hunters usually do not kill titi monkeys because of their small size. The greatest enemies of titis are hawks and other predatory birds.
