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The squirrel monkeys are the New World monkeys of the genus Saimiri. They are the only genus in the subfamily Chrysotrichinae.
Squirrel monkeys live in the tropical forests of Central and South America. Their range extends from Costa Rica through central Brazil and Bolivia.
Squirrel monkey fur is short and close, colored olive at the back and yellowish orange on its belly and extremities. Their throat and the ears are white and their mouths are black. The upper part of their head is hairy. This black and white face gives them their German name, "skull monkeys".
Squirrel monkeys grow to 25 to 35 cm, plus a 35 to 42 cm tail. They weigh 750 to 1100g. Remarkably, the brain mass to body mass ratio for squirrel monkeys is 1:17, which gives them the largest brain, proportionately, of al the primates. Humans have a 1:35 ratio.
Like most of their New World monkey relatives, squirrel monkeys are diurnal and arboreal. Unlike the other New World monkeys, their tail is not used for climbing, but as a kind of "balancing pole" and also as a tool. Their movements in the branches are extremely speedy.
They live together in social gatherings with 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 from large falcons, which are a natural threat to them. For marking territory, squirrel monkeys rub their tail and their skin in with their own urine.
Squirrel monkeys are omnivores, eating primarily fruits and insects. Occasionally they also eat nuts, buds, eggs and small vertebrates.
The mating of the squirrel monkeys is subject to seasonal influences. Females give birth to young during the rainy season, after a 150 to 170 day gestation. The mothers exclusively care for the young, which is weaned in approximately 10 months. With approximately 3 (females) and 5 (males) years these are again sexually mature. They live to about 15 years old in the wild, about 20 years in captivity.
Classification
- Genus Saimiri
- S. sciureus group
- Central American Squirrel Monkey, Saimiri oerstedi
- Saimiri oerstedi oerstedi
- Saimiri oerstedi citrinellus
- Common Squirrel Monkey, Saimiri sciureus
- Saimiri sciureus sciureus
- Saimiri sciureus albigena
- Saimiri sciureus cassiquiarensis
- Saimiri sciureus macrodon
- Bare-eared Squirrel Monkey, Saimiri ustus
- S. boliviensis group
- Black-capped Squirrel Monkey, Saimiri boliviensis
- Saimiri boliviensis boliviensis
- Saimiri boliviensis peruviensis
- Black Squirrel Monkey, Saimiri vanzolini
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