Common Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri sciureus (Linnaeus, 1758))
Scientific name: Saimiri sciureus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Common name: Common Squirrel Monkey
French name: Saïmiri commun, Singe écureuil.
Family: Cebidae
Size: Body size without tail: 25 to 37 cm for males, 23 to 30 cm for females. The tail measures from 37 to 45 cm. Weight: 0.7 to 1.1 kg for males, 0.5 to 0.75 kg for females.
Biotope: Secondary forests except in very dry regions. The Common Squirrel Monkey mainly lives at the intermediate levels of the forest but it can occasionally go down to the ground or climb to the high canopy.
Food: Frugivorous and insectivorous. The Common Squirrel Monkey mainly feeds on fruits and on insects, but also on small vertebrates like arboreal frogs per example.
Longevity : 15 years.
Geographic area: Amazonian Basin east of the Andes, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Brazil, Paraguay, Peru, Bolivia. North-western Central America.
The Common Squirrel Monkey has a thin elongated body, covered with rather short grey hairs.
The back is olive green greyish with a slight golden tint. The forearms and the end of the hind legs are orange yellow.
The upper side of the head is dark greyish brown. The muzzle is black and contrasts with the white mask around the eyes. There are tufts of white hair on the ears.
The chest is white. The tip of the tail is black with long hairs.
The Common Squirrel Monkeys live in groups of 15 to 50 individuals.

Common Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri sciureus) - French Guiana, France - March 8th 2012
[To know more about the Common Squirrel Monkey]    [Next picture]    [Top]
Common Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri sciureus)
I have shot this picture at Matoury, on the N2 road side, at the crossing with the track going to the Mirande footpath.


Common Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri sciureus) - French Guiana, France - March 8th 2012
[To know more about the Common Squirrel Monkey]    [Next picture]    [Previous picture]    [Top]
Common Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri sciureus)
The Common Squirrel Monkey tail is not prehensile. It simply uses it as a pendulum when it moves thru the trees.


Common Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri sciureus) - French Guiana, France - March 8th 2012
[To know more about the Common Squirrel Monkey]    [Previous picture]    [Top]
Common Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri sciureus)
The Common Squirrel Monkey prefers to feed on berries and fruits.

[Top]    Site map    André Bon June 2014