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Central American Squirrel monkey
Saimiri oerstedii
9.39348, -84.1524
Field Notes
Description:
It is a small monkey with an orange back and a distinctive white and black facial mask. It has an omnivorous diet, eating fruits, other plant materials, invertebrates and some small vertebrates. In turn, it has a number of predators, including raptors, cats and snakes. It lives in large groups that typically contain between 20 and 75 monkeys. It has one of the most egalitarian social structures of all monkeys. Females do not form dominance hierarchies, and males do so only at breeding season. Females become sexually mature at 2½ years, and males at 4 to 5 years. Sexually mature females leave the natal group, but males can remain with their natal group their entire life. The Central American squirrel monkey can live for more than 15 years.
Habitat:
A small troupe of these monkeys have learnt that it is a good idea to visit the breakfast area of a hotel near the Manuel Antonio Parque National. I was rather taken by their way of running through the dining room to a point outside the kitchens where they patiently waited any left overs from the staff. (I was also very pleased to see this interaction between the staff and the local monkeys)
Notes:
The Central American squirrel monkey population declined precipitously after the 1970s. This decline is believed to be caused by deforestation, hunting, and capture to be kept as pets. Efforts are underway to preserve the species. Despite the threats to the population, in 2008 the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) upgraded its conservation status from "endangered" to "vulnerable".
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