Common squirrel monkey

The common squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus), also called common squirrel monkey, is a small primate native to northern South America, mainly from the Amazon basin. It is found in Guyana, Brazil, Suriname and neighboring regions. The species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List.

It lives in tropical rainforests, often near waterways. The common squirrel monkey evolves mainly in the middle stages of the forest and in the low canopy. It moves quickly from branch to branch, with great agility.

Its coat is short, gray to olive on the back, with a light belly. His face is very recognizable, marked by white areas around the eyes, forming an expressive mask. Its tail is long but not prehensile. It is mainly used as a pendulum when he travels.

The common squirrel monkey is diurnal and extremely active. He spends the majority of the day exploring his environment in search of food. Its diet is omnivorous, dominated by insects, supplemented by fruits, flowers, nectar, and occasionally small vertebrates. This protein-rich diet explains its high activity level.

At the Guadeloupe Zoo, the common squirrel monkey perfectly illustrates the diversity of arboreal mammals, just like the brown nasturtium, the Red-faced harteed monkey And the Kinkajou.