| Black squirrel monkey [1] | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Primates |
| Suborder: | Haplorhini |
| Infraorder: | Simiiformes |
| Family: | Cebidae |
| Genus: | Saimiri |
| Species: | S. vanzolinii
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| Binomial name | |
| Saimiri vanzolinii | |
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| Geographic range | |
The black squirrel monkey (Saimiri vanzolinii), also known as the blackish squirrel monkey or black-headed squirrel monkey, is a small New World primate, endemic to the central Amazon in Brazil. [2] It largely resembles the female of the far more common Bolivian squirrel monkey, though the latter lacks the black central back. [4]
This squirrel monkey has one of the most restricted geographical distributions for a primate, living in várzea forest in the confluence of the Japura and Solimões rivers. Its entire range is within the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve. [2] It resides in the reserve with two other Saimiri species. [5] It is a social primate that travels with other black squirrel monkeys in large troops within its habitat. [6] Its small size makes it an easy target for its predators; however, it may resist predators when it travels in large troops. [6]
Its species overall has positive effects on the economy. [7]
Description
Black squirrel monkeys are small primates. [6] They have blackish-gray fur over most of their body except for their legs and stomach. [7] Their legs can be yellow or have a reddish tint. [7] Their stomachs will have a yellow tint. [6] They have short and dense fur everywhere except for certain areas on the face. [7] They lack hair in the areas of the nostrils and lips, and the skin is black in these areas. [7] Black squirrel monkeys tend to be 27 to 32 centimeters in length not including the length of their tails. [6] Their full length, including their tails, can be about 40 centimeters longer than their length without their tails. [7] Male black squirrel monkeys range in weight anywhere from 0.64 to 1.22 kilograms (1.4 to 2.7 pounds). [6] Female black squirrel monkeys have a weight range of 0.64 to 0.86 kg (1.4 to 1.9 lb). [6]
Distinctive characteristics
They get their name from the strip of black that extends from their head to the end of their tail. [8] The black fur above their eyes forms a shallow arch and is lower on their foreheads than other species. [8] Their tails are specifically distinct from the Saimiri sciureus species because black squirrel monkeys have much thinner tails. [8]
Lifespan
On average, black squirrel monkeys live up to 15 years in their natural habitat, the várzea forest. [6] They can live about 5 to 10 years longer than that when they are kept in captivity. [6]
Taxonomy
The black squirrel monkey falls under the genus, Saimiri. [7] There are four other species that fall under this same genus with the black squirrel monkey. [8]
UCLA scientists and colleagues concluded that black squirrel monkeys are a distinct species of Saimiri when it was originally considered the same species as Saimiri boliviensis. [9]
Habitat
Black squirrel monkeys reside within the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve in Brazil. [6] The várzea forest of this specific area experiences a consistent cycle of flooding. [9] The patterns of rain can cause a typical buildup of around 35 feet of flooding in the forest. [9] Atypical flooding due to excessive floods over a longer amount of time can threaten black squirrel monkeys' habitat. [9]
Observations
Two species, Humboldt's squirrel monkey and Ecuadorian squirrel monkey, take residence in the reserve in cohabitation with black squirrel monkeys. [5] The black squirrel monkeys inhabit a smaller ranged area than the other two species within the reserve. [5] All three species interact with one another but sexual interaction and reproduction between two different species has not been observed. [5]
Vulnerability
The black squirrel monkey species is declared endangered because of their limited range in the várzea forest. [6] The change in climate due to global warming is also affecting the lives of the black squirrel monkey species. [9]
Behaviour
They are interactive primates. [6] They exist in large groups of 40–50, and can exist in groups as large as 500 monkeys. [6] Travelling in big groups allows these monkeys to resist their predators more effectively. [6] They have more eyes on their surroundings which allows them to more easily and quickly alert the pack if they sense danger. [7] If the pack is big enough, the pack may be able to surround certain predators. [7]
Communication
Black squirrel monkeys are typically quiet primates. [7] The only times they make noise are when they sense danger or are trying to call out to other members of their group. [7]
Reproduction
Breeding season falls between the months of September and November. [7] During this season, the male monkeys with fattened stomachs are desired more by the female monkeys. [6] A female monkey's pregnancy will last about 140 to 170 days, and the time of birth falls at the same time that rainfall and food availability are at their peaks. [7]
Ecological role
The black squirrel monkey is preyed upon by snakes, raptors, and felids. [6]
This black squirrel monkeys is omnivorous. [7] It prefers fruit and insects, but also eats leaves, flowers, seeds, eggs, and small vertebrates. [6] [7]
Economic importance
Black squirrel monkeys have a positive effect on the economy by serving as subjects of biomedical research, being sold to serve as an individual's pet, and serving as a source of food. [7] There are no negative impacts of the species on the economy because of the species' small habitation range that they occupy. [7]
Gallery
References
- ^ Groves, C. P. (2005). Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 139. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. OCLC 62265494.
- ^ a b c Lynch, J.W.; Paim, F.P.; Rabelo, R.M.; Silva Júnior, J.S.; de Queiroz, H.L. (2021). "Saimiri vanzolinii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T19839A17940474. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T19839A17940474.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ Ayres, J.M. (1985). "On a new species of squirrel monkey, genus Saimiri, from Brazilian Amazonia (Primates, Cebidae)". Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia 36: 147-164.
- ^ Rowe, N. (1996). The Pictorial Guide to the Living Primates. Pogonia Press. ISBN 0-9648825-0-7.
- ^ a b c d Paim, Fernanda Pozzan; Valenta, Kim; Chapman, Colin A.; Paglia, Adriano Pereira; de Queiroz, Helder Lima (2018-03-10). "Tree community structure reflects niche segregation of three parapatric squirrel monkey species (Saimiri spp.)". Primates. 59 (4): 395–404. doi: 10.1007/s10329-018-0659-6. ISSN 0032-8332. PMID 29525834. S2CID 3796269.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Shangari, Nina (June 2018). "Black headed squirrel monkey". New England Primate Conservancy. Archived from the original on 2019-03-27. Retrieved 2019-03-08.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Williams, Abby (2006). "Saimiri vanzolinii (black squirrel monkey)". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 2019-03-08.
- ^ a b c d Cawthon Lang, Kristina (2006-03-16). "Primate Factsheets: Squirrel monkey (Saimiri) Taxonomy, Morphology, & Ecology". pin.primate.wisc.edu. Retrieved 2019-03-08.
- ^ a b c d e Wolpert, Stuart (2015-01-15). "Endangered monkeys in the Amazon are more diverse than previously thought, UCLA study finds". UCLA Newsroom. Retrieved 2019-03-08.
External links
- Information about the geographical distribution of the Black Squirrel Monkey on Natureserve.com Archived 2007-09-29 at the Wayback Machine
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