The Guianan squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus) is a species of squirrel monkey from South America. This species formerly applied to Humboldt's squirrel monkey and Collins' squirrel monkey, but genetic research in 2009 and 2015 revealed that these are distinct species.
Di
DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
Om
OmnivoreAn omnivore is an animal that has the ability to eat and survive on both plant and animal matter. Obtaining energy and nutrients from plant and ani...
Ar
ArborealArboreal locomotion is the locomotion of animals in trees. In habitats in which trees are present, animals have evolved to move in them. Some anima...
Sc
ScansorialScansorial animals are those that are adapted to or specialized for climbing. Many animals climb not only in tress but also in other habitats, such...
Vi
ViviparousAmong animals, viviparity is the development of the embryo inside the body of the parent. The term 'viviparity' and its adjective form 'viviparous'...
Br
BrowsingBrowsing is a type of herbivory in which an herbivore (or, more narrowly defined, a folivore) feeds on leaves, soft shoots, or fruits of high-growi...
Po
PolygynandryPolygynandry is a mating system in which both males and females have multiple mating partners during a breeding season.
Hi
Highly socialHighly social animals are those which are highly interactive with other members of their species. They live in large groups, nest in colonies, and ...
No
Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
G
starts withGuianan squirrel monkey has a pink face, black muzzle, and white arches over the eyes. The crown of its head is olive or olive-gray. The fur on its back can vary in color among gray, olive, or orange, but the belly is white and the arms are yellow-orange.
Guianan squirrel monkeys are native to Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, and Suriname. They typically occur in the middle level of the rainforest canopy, although they may be found at different levels when looking for food and shelter.
Guianan squirrel monkeys are highly social creatures, forming large troops of up to 300 individuals, although most contain only 40-50 animals. Each such troop generally consists of females, although multiple males are always present. When moving through the forest, a group of these primates makes a loud noise. Group members don't practice mutual grooming to enhance social bonds. Guianan squirrel monkeys frequently cooperate with the Brown capuchins, helping each other to find food and escape predators. They also associate with the Red-backed bearded saki. As diurnal animals, Guianan squirrel monkeys sleep in groups at night and are active during the daytime hours.
Guianan squirrel monkeys are omnivores. They consume food of both plant and animal origin, including insects, seeds, fruit, young leaves, flowers, gum, shoots, nectar, spiders, lizards, and bird eggs.
Guianan squirrel monkeys are polygynandrous (promiscuous), which means that multiple males mate indiscriminately with multiple females. As the reproductive season starts, males usually gain weight and become more active, fiercely competing with females. The winner eventually mates with the majority of females. After the gestation period is about 5 months the female gives birth to a single infant. All infants within a group are typically born within one week of each other during January or February. Males provide no parental care, but non-maternal females provide some alloparental care. Infants have slightly prehensile tails and are weaned at about 6 months. Females become reproductively mature at about 2.5 years, and males are fully mature when they are 4 or 5 years old.
There are no major threats to Guianan squirrel monkeys at present.
The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the Guianan squirrel monkey total population size. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List but its numbers today are decreasing.
