Monkey Squirrel 30cm - Soft Toy

Physical Characteristics
The squirrel monkey is characterised by a circle of black hairless skin around the nose and mouth set against an expressive white face. Their short, soft fur is grey to olive green, with whitish underparts. Squirrel monkeys are 25-40 cm long, not including the heavy nonprehensile tail, which is at least as long as the body. Hands, arms, and feet are yellow to orange. Common squirrel monkeys have olive or grayish crowns and are found only in South America, whereas the endangered Central American squirrel monkeys have black crowns and reddish backs.

Habitat
Squirrel monkeys are found in the riverside forests in the Guianas and the Amazon River basin.

Behaviour
Squirrel monkeys are amoung the most vocal of primates, communicating with at least 26 different calls, including barks, purrs, screams, peeps, and squawks. Exceptionally agile jumpers and runners, these monkeys prefer life in the trees, though they will occasionally descend to the ground. They are active during the day and move single file after a leader along frequently used pathways in the treetops. At night, they sleep huddled together on branches, tails wrapped around their bodies.

Breeding
Female squirrel monkies give birth to a single baby after a gestation of about six months. The baby rides the mother's back jockey-style for the first few weeks of life and remains dependent on the mother for a year.

Diet
Squirrel monkeys and capuchin monkeys sometimes forage together, eating fruit, leaves, buds, tree gum, insects, spiders, and small vertebrates.

Strange and Interesting Facts
Attractive, gentle, affectionate, and clean, squirrel monkeys were popular pets in the United States until the capture and importation of wild primates as pets was outlawed in 1975.