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TROPIC WORLD:
SOUTH AMERICA

Common Squirrel Monkey

Saimiri sciureus

Sex: Male and female

Arrival: Born at Brookfield Zoo in August and September of 2021
Native habitat: South America Amazon Basin (Brazil, Columbia, Venezuela); tropical rain forests
and southeastern coastal forests of Brazil

Facts: In 2021, Brookfield Zoo’s squirrel monkey troop added three new members with the births of several
adorable babies. The face of the small primate is covered with complex and distinctive markings—a mask that
has been said to resemble a human skull. Researchers believe the markings help the monkeys identify other individuals
of their species. Squirrel monkeys are also known for their large brains—they have the largest brain-to-body-mass
ratio of all primates, including humans. They live in troops and communicate with one another using nearly
30 different vocalizations, or calls. Unlike other monkey species, such as the spider monkey, adult squirrel monkeys
cannot grasp onto branches with their tail. But they can hop from branch to branch with squirrel-like speed and agility.

Largest

primate Brain

relative to
body mass

BROOKFIELD ZOO | SPRING 2022 29