Cyber FlashCards

10 of the most well-known primate species

#5

what is thIS PRIMATE'S common name?
COMMON SQUIRREL MONKEY
What is the scientific name?
Saimiri sciureus
​WHAT KIND OF PRIMATE IS THIS?
MONKEY
Where do they live?
Common squirrel monkeys are found in the Amazon Basin of South American. Before taxonomic research was conducted in 2009 and 2015, they were considered to be widely distributed throughout the Amazon Basin. However, it has been determined that 3-4 populations were actually separate species. As a result, the range of the common squirrel monkey, S. scuireus, is now limited to Brazil and the Guianas.
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Latin America
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Where common squirrel monkeys live. Map: Oona Räisänen & IUCN/Creative Commons
New world or old world?
NEW WORLD
fascinating facts
  • Squirrel monkeys are the smallest of the Cebidea family of monkeys
  • What they lack in size, they make up for in numbers; because they are small, they live and feed in large groups of up to 300 individuals. There's safety in numbers
  • When predators approach, the entire group jumps into action and fights back
What threatens their future?
Squirrel monkeys are threatened by habitat loss, due to high levels of deforestation. They are also trapped for the illegal pet trade and medical research.
​WHAT IS their CONSERVATION STATUS?
LEAST CONCERN
What Does this Conservation Status mean?
Least Concern (LC) = Lowest risk.

​They are widespread and abundant.
​However all nonhuman primates are threatened by habitat loss.
Any species categorized as Critically Endangered, Endangered, or Vulnerable is considered by conservation scientists to be a threatened species
​HERE'S A SNAPSHOT AND THE SPECIES' PROFILE
Click or tap on the graphic to enlarge it
​LEARN MORE ABOUT Common Squirrel Monkeys
Go to the common squirrel monkey Primate Species Profiles page
are Squirrel monkeys good pets?
NO
  1. Although small and cute, squirrel monkeys are meant to live in large groups of their own species.
  2. To become pets, squirrel monkeys are stolen from their mothers as babies. As a result, they do not develop normally emotionally.
  3. Monkeys are never domesticated. They always remain wild. 
  4. Caged monkeys are very unhappy and frustrated. They are likely to resist confinement. They are quick and cause damaging bites and scratches.
  5. Many locations have strict regulations that prohibit trading in or keeping monkeys are pets.
  6. Squirrel monkeys belong with other squirrel monkeys in South America. They and their habitats must be protected, not exploited.
#PrimatesAreNotPets
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​Common names are not officially defined. They are based on everyday conversational language and may differ by country, region, profession, community, or other factors. As a result, it is not unusual for a species to have multiple common names.

Scientific names, on the other hand, are standardized and constant. They are Latinized and rule-bound by a formal naming system called binominal nomenclature. Scientific names prevent misidentification. They typically only change if a species is officially redesignated.
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The biological order of Primates is divided into these classifications:​
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​​New World monkeys are native to Central and South America.

Old World monkeys are native to Africa and Asia.
Learn about the differences between New World monkeys and Old World monkeys
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  • ​Extinct (EX) – No known individuals remaining.
  • Extinct in the Wild (EW) – Known only to survive in captivity.
  • Critically Endangered (CR) – Extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
  • Endangered (EN) – High risk of extinction in the wild.
  • Vulnerable (VU) – High risk of endangerment in the wild.
  • Near Threatened (NT) – Likely to become endangered in the near future.
  • Least Concern (LC) – Widespread and abundant.
  • Data Deficient (DD) – Not enough data to assess the species' risk of extinction.
  • Not Evaluated (NE) – Has not yet been evaluated.
Learn more about ​Conservation Statuses
Copyright © New England Primate Conservancy 2019. You may freely use and share these learning activities for educational purposes. 
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