All About Squirrel Monkeys: The Small Primates


All About the Squirrel Monkey

Photo: Vincent van Zalinge via Unsplash

Squirrel monkeys belong to the Saimiri genus of New World monkeys. The Saimirinae subfamily consists solely of the genus Saimiri. In the early days of scientific study, early researchers gave the species an English name based on its native Tupi name sai-mirm (short for "monkey") and the Tupi word mirn (short for "little").

Description and Appearance

All About the Squirrel Monkey

Photo: Diego Guzmán via Unsplash

There are two distinct colors on a squirrel monkey's coat: an intense black over the shoulders and a pale golden orange on the back and hands and feet. The tops of their heads are covered with long, curly hair. Many Germanic languages, including German, Swedish, Dutch, and Slovenian "death's head monkey," refer to this creature because of its black-and-white features.

With a tail that measures 35 to 42 centimeters, squirrel monkeys can grow up to 25 centimeters long. They may weigh anything from 750 to 1,100 grams. The females' weight ranges between 500 and 750 grams for this species. Tails are long and hairy in both sexes, as are the nails, which are flat and pointy.

Female squirrel monkeys express their authority over lesser monkeys by using pseudo-penises, much like male squirrel monkeys.

Their hands and feet are the only parts of their bodies that allow them to sweat. Their hands and feet may feel somewhat moist as a result. In addition to behavioral adjustments and urine cleansing, squirrel monkeys must employ other thermoregulation measures. 

Similarly, color vision research has been conducted on squirrel monkeys to better understand human visual problems.

Diet

In addition to fruit, squirrel monkeys ingest certain insects, leaves, and seeds. An hour or so is spent hunting and gathering fruits in this period of time each day. In addition, they have also been known to feed on spiders. To find food, a group of the squirrel monkeys disperse across the forest at every level of the canopy.

It's not unusual for squirrel monkeys to consume a wide variety of foods including nuts and seeds as well as other plants, flowers, buds, eggs, and tiny bats.

Habitat

Primary and secondary forest, gallery forest, and the forest edge are the preferred habitats of squirrel monkeys.

Although they prefer to live in the top canopy, they can sometimes be found on the ground or in the lower levels of the forest. They may be found in a variety of forest types.

Squirrel monkeys inhabit the rainforest's canopy, which may reach heights of up to 100 feet (30 meters), and are frequently seen near a river or other body of water. Arboreal animals refer to monkeys who spend their lives in trees. Hunting for food or having fun is the only time you'll see them on the ground.

Squirrel monkeys may be found in the canopy layer of tropical forests across Central and South America.

Reproduction

When squirrel monkeys mate, they're influenced by the weather. Two to two and a half years old for female squirrel monkeys and three to four years old for male squirrel monkeys are considered sexually mature. During the rainy season, females give birth to their young following a 150- to 170-day gestation period. 

Babies raised by their mothers are weaned at 4 months, but those raised by their fathers are not weaned until they are 18 months old. They can live up to 15 years in the wild and more than 20 years in captivity, although squirrel monkeys are known for their longevity.

During their teens, females go through menopause. Male menopause often begins in the late teens or early 20s. There is evidence to suggest that Squirrel monkeys schedule the weaning of their young ones to coincide with the peak of fruit supply. This decreases the energy expenditure of freshly weaned juveniles as they transition from a milk-based diet to a more diversified one in which they must hunt for their own sustenance.

During the mating season, testosterone, androstenedione, and dehydroepiandrosterone concentrations in sexually mature males increase, peaking in January. These androgen concentrations fall after the mating season. Both intra-sexual selection among males and selection based on female preference may explain these variations in male size in sexually mature animals. The larger males are more likely to be favored by females and to participate in more mating rituals. A leading idea is that bigger males are more likely to be more attentive to their offspring, which is why females prefer larger males.

For the first five to ten weeks of their life, newborns are carried around by their mothers on their backs before they begin to explore. They are taken care of by the female squirrel monkeys, the males do little to help.

Conservation

All About the Squirrel Monkey

Photo: Vincent van Zalinge via Unsplash

Captive squirrel monkey populations are now kept in labs for scientific purposes.

In the treetops, eagles and snakes pose dangers to wild squirrel monkeys. It was formerly common practice to sell squirrel monkeys as pets since they are so easy to care for in captivity.

Squirrel monkeys are under danger from a variety of sources, including habitat deterioration, illegal hunting, and capture for the pet trade or medical research.

There are five species of squirrel monkeys, all of which are found in Central and South America, under the genus Saimiri. However, only one of these is really categorized as 'endangered,' the Central American squirrel monkey, Saimiri oerstedii.

Other Interesting Facts 

  • Squirrel monkeys are gregarious creatures who spend virtually all of their time in the trees. 
  • Squirrel monkeys are frequently referred to as "Death's Head monkeys" because of their black-and-white countenance.
  • In order to improve their chances of survival and foraging, squirrel monkeys have been known to temporarily band together with other primate species (such as capuchins).
  • It's a 1:17 ratio between brain mass and body mass. They have the greatest brain-to-body ratio of any monkey group.
  • They have between 25 and 30 distinct vocalizations
  • As they walk, they pee on themselves, which creates scent trails other members of their group may use to locate them as they move through the trees.

Final Thoughts

Known as black-headed squirrel monkeys, black-capped squirrel monkeys, or Bolivian squirrel monkeys, they are found only in South America. Due to the fact that squirrel monkeys are very social creatures, getting Squirrel Monkey Soft Stuffed Plush Toy from Gage Beasley’s is just as close.

Gage Beasley's Squirrel Monkey Soft Stuffed Plush Toy

It has been shown that male squirrel monkeys exhibit sexual dimorphism and have established mating seasons that include substantial changes in hormone levels. It is crucial for these monkeys to maintain good osmoregulation if the circumstances exceed specified thresh-holds in their environment.

Cheers!

~GB


Leave a comment


Please note, comments must be approved before they are published