Black-crowned Central American squirrel monkey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black-crowned Central American squirrel monkey |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Primates |
| Suborder: | Haplorhini |
| Infraorder: | Simiiformes |
| Family: | Cebidae |
| Genus: | Saimiri |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: |
S. o. oerstedii
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| Trinomial name | |
| Saimiri oerstedii oerstedii Reinhardt, 1872
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| S. o. oerstedii range shown in blue | |
The black-crowned Central American squirrel monkey (Saimiri oerstedii oerstedii) is a special type of Central American squirrel monkey. These small monkeys live along the Pacific coast. You can find them in western Panama and southern Costa Rica. They especially live in places like the Osa Peninsula. If you visit Corcovado National Park in Costa Rica, you might see them there!
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About the Black-Crowned Squirrel Monkey
What Does It Look Like?
This squirrel monkey has a bright orange or reddish-orange body. It also has a distinct black cap on its head. Its arms and belly are often more yellowish. This helps tell it apart from other squirrel monkeys. Some people think its black cap is darker than other types. But others say this can change as the monkey gets older.
How Big Are They?
Adult black-crowned squirrel monkeys are quite small. Their bodies are about 26.6 to 29.1 cm (10.5 to 11.5 in) long. This does not include their tail. They weigh between 600 and 950 g (21 to 33 oz). Their tail is even longer than their body! It can be about 36.2 to 38.9 cm (14.3 to 15.3 in) long. Male monkeys are usually a bit heavier than females.
Where Do They Live and What Do They Do?
These monkeys love to live in trees. They are called arboreal animals because of this. They are also diurnal, which means they are active during the day. Black-crowned squirrel monkeys live in groups. These groups include several adult males and females. Young monkeys, called juveniles, also live with them.
What Do They Eat?
The black-crowned Central American squirrel monkey is an omnivore. This means they eat both plants and animals. Their diet includes many different things. They love to eat insects, like grasshoppers and caterpillars. Spiders are also on their menu. They also enjoy fruits, leaves, and flowers. Sometimes, they even eat small animals. These can include bats, birds, lizards, and frogs. They usually look for food in the middle parts of the forest. This is often between 15 and 30 feet high.
Why Are They Endangered?
The black-crowned Central American squirrel monkey is in trouble. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) says they are Endangered. This means there are not many of them left. Their homes are getting smaller and broken up. This is because their habitat is being lost. Their living area is only about 4,000 square kilometers (1,500 square miles). People are working to help them. There is a project in Panama to plant more trees. This helps protect the monkeys that live there.
