Common Squirrel Monkey
Saimiri sciureus
Conservation Status
Least ConcernMammalia · Primates · Cebidae
About
Common squirrel monkey is the traditional common name for several small squirrel monkey species native to the tropical areas of South America. The term common squirrel monkey had been used as the common name for Saimiri sciureus before genetic research by Jessica Lynch Alfaro and others indicated S. scuireus covered at least three and possibly four species: the Guianan squirrel monkey, Humboldt's squirrel monkey and Collins' squirrel monkey. The Ecuadorian squirrel monkey, generally regarded as a subspecies of Humboldt's squirrel monkey, had also been sometimes proposed as a separate species that had originally been included within the term "common squirrel monkey."
Fun Fact
Common squirrel monkeys have the largest brain-to-body-mass ratio of all primates, and they live in enormous troops of up to 500 individuals — the biggest social groups of any New World monkey.
Quick Facts
Habitat
Tropical rainforests
Diet
Omnivore
Lifespan
15-20 years
Threats
- Illegal Logging
- Wildfire