Fun Facts!

Squirrel monkeys aren't picky eaters. In fact, they will often inspect an unknown item by tasting it or chewing on it.

Monkeys are the closest animals to humans.

Common Squirrel Monkey

Saimiri sciureus

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

Squirrel monkey fur is short and yellowish orange on its back and extremities, but olive-colored at their shoulders. Their throats and ears are white and their mouths are black. They have longer fur on the top of their heads. Squirrel monkeys grow to 10-13 inches, and their tails are usually 13 to 16 inches long. They typically weigh between 1 and 2.5 pounds.

HABITAT

Found in Central and South America in the tropical forest regions of the Amazon, Costa Rica and Panama

DIET IN THE WILD

They are omnivores (plant and animal eaters), and eat primarily fruits and insects, but will occasionally eat small vertebrates, nuts, buds and eggs.

BEHAVIOR

They are diurnal - they are active during the day and sleep at night - and are also arboreal - they live primarily in the canopy of trees. Unlike the other monkeys of South and Central America, they use their tails to balance themselves, and not to help them climb. Their movements in the branches are extremely fast. They live together in multi-male and multi-female groups, with some groups having up to 500 members. These large groups can, however, occasionally break into smaller troops. They have a number of vocal calls, including warning sounds to protect themselves. For marking territory, squirrel monkeys rub their tail and their skin with their own urine.

STATUS IN THE WILD / CONSERVATION EFFORTS

Due to their size, squirrel monkeys can become easy prey to large falcons, snakes and cats in the wild. They are captured for the pet trade and for medical research, but their numbers are not in danger. Three squirrel monkey species are in danger of extinction. S. o. oerstedti is listed as endangered, S. o. citrinellus is listed as critically endangered and S. vanzolinii is listed as vulnerable.

LIFE SPAN

Squirrel monkeys typically live up to 15 years in the wild, and up to 20 years in captivity.