Saimiri sciureus

A small-sized New World monkey with wide distribution throughout the tropical forest regions of South and Central America.  The genus includes a second species, the Red-backed squirrel monkey of Costa Rica and Panama.  Both species include several races recognized by geographical location.

 The common squirrel monkey has distinctive facial markings that include the darkened circle around the mouth and nose.  Squirrel monkeys rub urine on themselves, which in turn rubs off on branches and foliage thereby marking their territory.  Their social structure is organized as segregated groups of adult males, females to include the young and juveniles.  Males do not help in raising the young.  Males travel and forage separately returning to the main group at nightfall.  During the breeding season males remain in proximity to the females, and fights for breeding rights are constant.  Prior to the breeding season, males put on weight and become bulky around the chest, shoulders, and head.  These monkeys are vocal and constantly let each other know where they are.  Lifespan may be to twenty-one years.

 Squirrel monkeys feed on fruits, insects, and small animals found in the mid-level canopy of the forest.  They are arboreal and rarely come down to the ground.  At night the groups come together and reform the troop to sleep.  At rest the monkey curls into a ball and their tails wind over a shoulder.

 Zoo diet is 2 monkey chow biscuits each in the morning, and chopped mixed fruits in the afternoon and anything else that they can catch.  Two monkeys, Bubba  (top left) and Aunty (top right), were from a group obtained from NASA in 1995.  In November of 2004, three year old Mike – Little Man (left), born July 2001 on Oahu joined the group.  Three more monkeys (including Mike’s mother), from the Blue Tropix Nightclub in Honolulu, joined the group in 2005 - 6 year old male Ikaika, and females Lehua  and Nani  who may be 5 - 7 years old.  Unfortunately Lehua succumbed to a parasite and Ikaika to renal failure.  Nani (right) however is doing great and is easy to recognize by her right index finger which sticks straight out.  Bubba died of old age in March, 2006.