In the world there are many species of monkeys, of any style, size and appearance, but there is one in common that is known for its appearance with a Chipmunk, It is about the squirrel monkey and here you will know everything that is most important about this species of primates, continue reading to find out!
It is a Neotropical-type primate that is part of the “Cebidae” family. Among the most relevant characteristics that it has is a long tail whose end is black, when these primates reach maturity they can measure at least 80 centimeters. With a weight that approaches a kilo and a half.
On the other hand, this ape has a white spot on its face and a brown snout that emerges from it, which is why they can be easily recognized, however within the same family are the saimiri oerstedii y Saimiri Ustus, although they have a facial mask that can be seen with dark colors at eye level, and with this a white V is formed.
Names by which the squirrel monkey is known
This little primate is known by various names according to the region in which they live; one of them is «titi», squirrel monkey or also "monkey friar". Other regions call it by the name of "Vizcaino", "mico soldier", "fraile marmoset" and regions of southern Latin America call them "fraile", "little friar", "macaco de cheiro", "saimiri", "sai mirím". ” or “chichico”, however, are meanings that come from Colombian territory.
On the other hand, according to the etymology of the squirrel monkey, «Saimiri» is a conception originating in the Tupí language, this being a language in which «sai» refers to different species of monkeys and «"mirim" refers to something small; on the other hand, "Sciureus» means "squirrel" in Latin.
What is the taxonomy?
Regarding the taxonomy that includes the family of the «Saimiri sciureus» that is made up of a total of 5 species that were recognized until 2014 within the genus of the «Saimirí«. The first studies of this primate were carried out and made known in history thanks to Carlos Linneo in the year 1758. Today at least 4 subspecies of the Saimirí genus have been known, which are:
- Saimiri sciureus albigena
- Saimiri sciureus cassiquiarensis
- Saimiri sciureus macrodon
- Saimiri sciureus sciureus
But since most of these monkeys are very similar to each other, it was believed that there were only two species, which were the Saimirí Oerstedii and the Saimiri Sciureus, this was believed until finally the scientific result was obtained through a DNA analysis mitochondrial and nuclear of these primates in which 5 different species could be released, however this caused a stir among people.
On the other hand, there is an alternate taxonomy that was created by the scientist Thorington Jr. in 1985, within this taxonomy the subspecies called albigena, macrodon and ustus emerge, they belong to the Saimiri sciureus group, it is also known of other subspecies known as the Saimiris ciureus boliviensis, Saimiris sciureus cassiquiarensis and also the Saimiri sciureus oerstedii.
Having said all this, it is worth highlighting a phylogenetic study that took place in 2009 in which there was a positive result in which it is believed that the Saimiri sciureus sciureus are directly related to the Saimiri oerstedti and not strictly with the Saimiri sciureus. albigena, as well as the other subspecies of Saimirisciureus, among which the Saimiri collinsi found on Marajó Island and those that live in the southeast of the Amazon can be seen.
That is why some scientists have taken action on the matter and have made proposals to separate the Saimiri sciureus sciureus towards a species that would then be known as Saimiri cassiquiarensis together with the subspecies of the Saimiri cassiquiarensis albigena. Likewise, another of the options that are taken into account for this controversy is to separate all the subspecies that belong to Colombian territory and together are part of the Saimiri sciureus subspecies, in this way they could become a direct species of the Saimiri albigena , Saimiri cassiquiarensis and Saimiri macrodon.
In view of this phylogeographical controversy, various scholars of science have thought to confirm that the genus Saimiri did not suffer any type of expansion from the northwest of the continent, only from the west, in such a way that the Saimiri sciureus and Saimiri oerstedii were seen different thanks to the migration they carry out to the north, especially to the northeast and northwest.
Thanks to the results of a phylogenetic study that was published in 2011, it was possible to know that the Saimiri sciureus had a great detachment from the Saimiri oerstedti, even much greater than what they had unlike the subspecies of Saimiri sciureus.
But this is not all, since through a morphological and phylogenetic study presented in 2014 it was possible to determine that the Saimiri sciureus subspecies should be separated from the Saimiri collinsi. It is known that the Saimiri Sciureus collinsi species can be easily identified thanks to its yellow crown, since unlike Saimirisciureus, the crown is gray.
A biogeographical and phylogenetic study that was also presented in 2014 confirmed a hypothesis related to a DNA analysis, in which the Saimiri boliviensis was appreciated as one of the first species that suffered a separation in the Saimiri genus. sciureus sciureus and is also linked to the monophyletic clade and to the sister species of the Saimiri oerstedii.
Completing the part of the taxonomy of the squirrel monkey, it is known that the Saimiri sciureus macrodon consists of at least three paraphyletic clades, taking first the closest one, which is that of the Saimiri sciureus cassiquiarensis, while the second had a rapid separation from this subgenus and the Saimiri sciureus albigena, but the third clade is even closer to the last mentioned.
physiology
This species of primates of the subgenus saimiri sciureus It is very similar to the other species of the primary genera, since most of these small monkeys live in trees and are very skilled at climbing them; They have a short coat, as well as a slender physiology. On their face they have whitish features with a black snout that stands out on their face, in addition to having a gray crown, their ears are white.
Regarding their anatomy:
- They have a head, back, flanks, extremities, upper and lower limbs, and a tail.
- His body is olive gray with some yellowish features, the fur on his body has dark brown colors also with yellowish touches.
- They have a yellowish-white belly and a black tail on one third of it..
These primates can be differentiated according to their gender, but it is not always so easy in some species. They have in their physiognomy a bow with dark colors, the subgenres of the Saimiri oersdesti and Saimiri ustus have it and it is at the level of their eyes to form a V that resembles a mask, this is different from that of other subgenres such as the Saimiri boliviensis and Saimiri vanzolinii that have a more obtuse mask at the level of their eyes, thus forming a pair of semicircles on each one.
Regarding its size:
- From the moment these primates are born they can weigh between 90 and 150 g.
- When they reach maturity, they can weigh from 500 g to 1.300 g depending on the type of species, since taking this into account they can weigh a little more than the general average; and this also taking into consideration whether it is male or female, males weighing between 600 g and 800 g and females between 500 g and 800 g.
Another point to take into account is that when they are born, the distance between the body and the head is an average of 13 and 16 cm, but when they reach adulthood this distance is between 27 and 37 cm, likewise, their tail It has a length of between 35 and 45 cm, becoming even longer than its own body. The locomotion of this primate is considered quadrupedal, it has a preference for inhabiting thin branches.
Where does the squirrel monkey live?
The squirrel monkeys are known to have diverse preferences when it comes to live in a forest, as some may prefer to live in gallery forests, sclerophyllous forests that have a low canopy, hillside forests, forests with high humidity, forests that are partially flooded, and some mangroves.
These do not usually have problems adapting easily to a forest, which, unlike other primate species, is usually difficult for them. Any forest that is found may be welcome for a squirrel monkey to inhabit.
In addition to this, the squirrel monkeys can also have various natural habitats in which the human being has intervened in a certain way, this of course if all the necessary resources are found for them to survive, such as water and food, it is by This means that these little monkeys are not in danger of extinction, since despite the fact that human beings constantly attack their habitats, they can adapt easily.
However, these small monkeys are often hunted and are destined for the commercial pet market, for this reason this species has a small margin of danger, as well as the subgenus of the Saimiri albigena that are in danger due to various human attacks. against their habitats.
Distribution
The family of the Saimiri sciureus sciureus is possibly the subspecies that has the greatest distribution in Latin America, being that they can be seen in regions of Guyana, also in French Guiana, in the Amazon, in Suriname and to the east they are observed in some rivers such as the Branco and Rio Negro, the Amazon River that continues to the Amapá.
On the other hand, the subgenus Saimiri sciureus albígena tends to be found mostly in Colombian territory, specifically in gallery forests of the Llanos Orientales as well as the eastern Andean foothills and in the different departments of Casanare, Arauca, Meta and Huila. The distribution of these can extend to an unknown limit, in the same way they are distributed to the north towards the Magdalena River and to the east in the departments of Arauca and Casanare.
Regarding the subgenus of the Saimiri sciureus cassiquiarensis, it can be found distributed in the highest reaches of the Amazon and in various regions of the Orinoco River. They are also seen in Brazil, in the state of Amazonas, to the north of the Solimões river and also further to the west of the Demini and Negro rivers, where they are distributed in the Orinoco-Cassiquiare basin in the Venezuelan region; then they are distributed towards the west to be located in the Colombian east, specifically in the Apaporis and Inírida rivers.
Saimiri sciureus macrodon can also be found in the upper Amazon, but these are found further west than the cassiquiarensis. Likewise, they are distributed in Brazil, near the Amazon and between the Juruá and Japurá rivers, they are also seen in Colombia located to the south in the Apaporis river, making an extension that goes from the east of Ecuador and throughout the Ecuadorian Amazon to the foothills. Andean, and from there to the region of San Martín and Loreto in the Peruvian region to finally limit on the north bank of the Marañón-Amazonas rivers.
Completing the distribution of the squirrel monkey, the Saimiri collinsi live from the southern basin of the Amazon River and pass through the Tapajós rivers in Maranhão and Marajó. Being that this is considered a species, it is known that the Saimiri sciureus cannot seen in the south of the Amazon River, in this way the opinions that affirm the habitat of the Saimiri sciureus to the east of the Bolivian region are ruled out.
This is motivated by the fact that through various genetic studies that were carried out, it is known that in Bolivia only the subgenera of Saimiri boliviensis can be found. On the other hand, the Saimiri ustus expand to the Brazilian banks of the Bolivian-Brazilian border rivers.
Behavior
Like a howler monkey, these primates make their life throughout the day to rest at night, just as everyone in the Cebidae family does without counting the Aotus, in addition to being completely arboreal monkeys, but normally these monkeys usually come down from the trees sometimes to be able to move from one place to another. They are very social primates, which is why they make up various groups that, depending on the environment they inhabit, can have between 10 and more than 400 monkeys.
Of course, in these groups there are a large number of males, females and even offspring of squirrel monkeys, they are not very territorial monkeys so conflicts with other groups for habitat are minimal. These are usually seen in the different and extensive edges of the forests, they can survive in completely isolated areas that are a consequence of indiscriminate deforestation.
Food
Regarding the diet of squirrel monkeys in general, they are a species of primates that are mostly inclined towards a diet based on fruits and insects, among which you can find nuts, berries, some seeds, plants, spiders, ants, butterflies and some smaller vertebrate animals. Although due to their small digestive system they get more protein from animals than from fruits.
In a broad sense, squirrel monkeys look for fruits early in the day, to focus exclusively on finding insects during the rest of the afternoon. It is believed that the feeding of these primates resembles that of the Saimiri boliviensis.
Through a study carried out, it was possible to know that in southern Peru the species of Saimiri boliviensis spent much of the day looking for and eating small fruits, they looked for food in the trees, at an approximate height of between 20 and 30 meters . However, in their feeding on insects they sought more than any type of larvae and pupae, although they were also interested in eating small birds, frogs and small crawling animals.
Social circle
When it comes to social groups, squirrel monkeys take the prize, as they can make up the largest herd of any neotropical primate species. These groups can range from 30 to 50 primates depending on the environment where they are and have varied genders of males and females and young monkeys.
Within these groups of monkeys there are hierarchies that must be respected by the lower members, it is spoken of the role of the males in relation to the females, where they remain dominant before them. However, when found in the wild, females are of a more philopatric gender, as males leave groups for other groups.
As was previously said, this species of the Saimiri is known for not having a problem with the territories, since they do not try to mark a territory as such or fight for them, in the same way it has been observed on some occasions in regions such as Monte Seco , Colombia; Barquetá, Panama and on a small Colombian island called Santa Sofía several groups of squirrel monkeys agglomerated in the same area, this makes it clear that they do not fight over territories.
How do they reproduce?
In the Saimiri species there is only one mating system and it is polygamous, although there are usually some members of male monkeys that mate more than the others, this is seen in the wild, but in some laboratories it has been observed that monkeys Saimiri reproduce according to a seasonal pattern, it seems that the reproduction of the squirrel monkeys depends on the temperatures of their habitat and the level of rainfall that there is.
Having said all this, in general, the squirrel monkey begins the mating process in the month of August and at the beginning of October, they take turns and create a type of synchronization to give birth in different weeks in order to prevent predators from attacking their young together.
The gestation process of a squirrel monkey lasts around 145 days, so they give birth to their young approximately in the months of February and April, just in time to take advantage of the abundance of food that there is for that season. According to some studies carried out in primate care centers, it was observed that the squirrel monkey takes up to an hour and a half to give birth; when the calf is born it goes straight to the back of its mother.
These are only capable of having one (1) calf for each pregnancy; When the mating season arrives, the males begin to have an accumulation of fat on their shoulders. After the calf is born they spend a large part of the day eating and sleeping with their mother, but when they are about 2 or 5 weeks old they begin to separate from her so that other monkeys in the group can carry them, however they continue to drink milk from their mother. mother for up to 6 months.
The sexual maturity of these monkeys depends on their gender, in such a sense that males are able to start reproducing from the age of two and a half, while females can start reproducing from their 4 years of age.
A male monkey feels sexually stimulated thanks to various odors that are secreted by the female, although the males must compete with the others to be able to mate, since the female prefers those who manage to accumulate more fat in their bodies and are more robust. That said, males have a couple of months to prepare before mating season begins.
How is the squirrel monkey related to other species?
Because they are small primates, they are subject to many predators larger than them, so they become alert when they are in the presence of large birds such as a Bald eagle, snakes, tigers, wolves and more. The squirrel monkeys serve dinner to some of the hawks, as they interact near the squirrel monkeys because they scare away the insects when they are looking for them, which is where the hawk comes into action to feed.
The Saimiri sciureus usually relate and interact with another species of primates of the genus cebus apellaIt has even been observed that when a solitary member of one of these two species wants to rub shoulders with a group, they can join the packs of others.
Both species of primates usually make friendly bonds after having shared a branch with fruits and have eaten together; On the other hand, there are the squirrel monkey females, which when they are gestating do not have much mobility and are slow, this makes them relate to the Cebus species, since they also move very slowly.
It is not uncommon to see a squirrel monkey rub elbows with the primates of the Alouatta genus, as well as with those of the Cacajao calvus rubicundus genus, although with the latter they always groom themselves and play on top of the trees, however they can have various frictions and end up in a problem of aggressiveness.
Conservation
Like other species such as the Woodpecker, squirrel monkeys find it necessary to migrate to different forested areas due to the destruction of their habitat by human beings, generally these monkeys are not hunted indiscriminately, but their hunting is practiced in Colombian and Ecuadorian to market them in pet stores.
One of the species that is at risk, the Saimiri albigena, since they have their habitat in the Colombian Llanos, where there is an enormous rate of deforestation, resulting in the total loss of their home; According to some official reports in 2009, this primate species is threatened by the loss of its natural habitat.
On the other hand, there is the species of the Saimiri ustus, a species that has been classified as "Almost threatened", since their population has been declining over the years, reaching the borderline of -10.000 species in its natural habitat. Similarly, the Central American squirrel monkey and Vanzolini's squirrel monkey are also included in this list of threatened for the same reason, the loss of their natural habitats.