Black Squirrel Monkey

Saimiri vanzolinii

The Black Squirrel Monkey has the smallest geographic range of all the South American primates. They are found exclusively in a patch of Northern Brazil, near the convergence of the Japura and Amazon rivers. Altogether, this range only covers about 200 square miles!

Black Squirrel Monkeys have yellowish-brown undersides, with black backs and white rings around their eyes. They additionally sport long tails that can reach 3.5ft in length-- a contrast to their 2.5ft body sizes.

Black Squirrel Monkeys live in mixed-sex groups, and when it comes time to breed the males will fight each other over breeding rights (though a female may actually mate with multiple males each season). Only one infant is born at a time, and the females do all of the childrearing.

It should come as no surprise that these Monkeys are listed as Vulnerable. Having such a small geographic range puts them in danger of extinction. Luckily, they are easy to raise in captivity, and are found in numerous zoos. Should habitat loss continue to be a problem the Monkeys wont be completly wiped out, though maintaining their home range is greatly preferred.

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IUCN Status : Vulnerable
Location : South America
Size : Body length up to 12in (31cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Mammalia -- Order : Primates
Family : Cebidae -- Genus : Saimiri -- Species : S. vanzolinii

Image : Giovanni Mari