Black squirrel monkey
Template:Short description Template:Speciesbox
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.[1] It largely resembles the female of the far more common Bolivian squirrel monkey, though the latter lacks the black central back.[2]
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.[1] It resides in the reserve with two other Saimiri species.[3] It is a social primate that travels with other black squirrel monkeys in large troops within its habitat.[4] Its small size makes it an easy target for its predators; however, it may resist predators when it travels in large troops.[4]
Its species overall has positive effects on the economy.[5]
Description
Black squirrel monkeys are small primates.[4] They have blackish-gray fur over most of their body except for their legs and stomach.[5] Their legs can be yellow or have a reddish tint.[5] Their stomachs will have a yellow tint.[4] They have short and dense fur everywhere except for certain areas on the face.[5] They lack hair in the areas of the nostrils and lips, and the skin is black in these areas.[5] Black squirrel monkeys tend to be 27 to 32 centimeters in length not including the length of their tails.[4] Their full length, including their tails, can be about 40 centimeters longer than their length without their tails.[5] Male black squirrel monkeys range in weight anywhere from Template:Convert.[4] Female black squirrel monkeys have a weight range of Template:Convert.[4]
Distinctive characteristics
They get their name from the strip of black that extends from their head to the end of their tail.[6] The black fur above their eyes forms a shallow arch and is lower on their foreheads than other species.[6] Their tails are specifically distinct from the Saimiri sciureus species because black squirrel monkeys have much thinner tails.[6]
Lifespan
On average, black squirrel monkeys live up to 15 years in their natural habitat, the várzea forest.[4] They can live about 5 to 10 years longer than that when they are kept in captivity.[4]
Taxonomy
The black squirrel monkey falls under the genus, Saimiri.[5] There are four other species that fall under this same genus with the black squirrel monkey.[6]
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.[7]
Habitat
Black squirrel monkeys reside within the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve in Brazil.[4] The várzea forest of this specific area experiences a consistent cycle of flooding.[7] The patterns of rain can cause a typical buildup of around 35 feet of flooding in the forest.[7] Atypical flooding due to excessive floods over a longer amount of time can threaten black squirrel monkeys' habitat.[7]
Observations
Two species, Humboldt's squirrel monkey and Ecuadorian squirrel monkey, take residence in the reserve in cohabitation with black squirrel monkeys.[3] The black squirrel monkeys inhabit a smaller ranged area than the other two species within the reserve.[3] All three species interact with one another but sexual interaction and reproduction between two different species has not been observed.[3]
Vulnerability
The black squirrel monkey species is declared endangered because of their limited range in the várzea forest.[4] The change in climate due to global warming is also affecting the lives of the black squirrel monkey species.[7]
Behaviour
They are interactive primates.[4] They exist in large groups of 40–50, and can exist in groups as large as 500 monkeys.[4] Travelling in big groups allows these monkeys to resist their predators more effectively.[4] They have more eyes on their surroundings which allows them to more easily and quickly alert the pack if they sense danger.[5] If the pack is big enough, the pack may be able to surround certain predators.[5]
Communication
Black squirrel monkeys are typically quiet primates.[5] The only times they make noise are when they sense danger or are trying to call out to other members of their group.[5]
Reproduction
Breeding season falls between the months of September and November.[5] During this season, the male monkeys with fattened stomachs are desired more by the female monkeys.[4] 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.[5]
Ecological role
The black squirrel monkey is preyed upon by snakes, raptors, and felids.[4]
This black squirrel monkeys is omnivorous.[5] It prefers fruit and insects, but also eats leaves, flowers, seeds, eggs, and small vertebrates.[4][5]
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.[5] There are no negative impacts of the species on the economy because of the species' small habitation range that they occupy.[5]
Gallery
References
External links
- Information about the geographical distribution of the Black Squirrel Monkey on Natureserve.com Template:Webarchive
Template:Cebidae nav Template:Taxonbar
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