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Squirrel Monkey
Paignton Zoo’s squirrel monkeys live with our Azara’s agouti in Monkey Heights.
As a diurnal primate, squirrel monkeys sleep in groups at night and split into smaller groups during the day to forage.
Class:
Mammals
Order:
Primates
Family:
Cebidae
About the squirrel monkey
Squirrel monkeys are New World monkeys endemic to the canopy layer of tropical forests in South America, in countries including Brazil, Venezuela and Ecuador.
This small primate is omnivorous, meaning they eat fruit, flowers, berries and various insects.
Conservation
Habitat destruction is decreasing the forest habitat of these monkeys; however, they are common throughout their natural range. They are captured for the pet trade and sometimes for medical research.
Our squirrel monkeys are part of the EAZA ex-situ breeding programme for the species.