Чёрная саймири: эндемик Амазонии под угрозой исчезновения

Species of New World monkey

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. 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. They have blackish gray fur over most of their body except for their legs and stomach. Their legs can be yellow or have a reddish tint. The black fur above their eyes forms a shallow arch and is lower on their foreheads than other species.

Black squirrel monkeys reside within the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve in Brazil. The black squirrel monkeys inhabit a smaller ranged area than the other two species within the reserve. All three species interact with one another but sexual interaction and reproduction between two different species has not been observed.

The black squirrel monkey species is declared endangered because of their limited range in the várzea forest. The change in climate due to global warming is also affecting the lives of the black squirrel monkey species.

They are interactive primates. They exist in large groups of 40–50, and can exist in groups as large as 500 monkeys. Travelling in big groups allows these monkeys to resist their predators more effectively. They have more eyes on their surroundings which allows them to more easily and quickly alert the pack if they sense danger. If the pack is big enough, the pack may be able to surround certain predators.

Black squirrel monkeys are typically quiet primates. The only times they make noise are when they sense danger or are trying to call out to other members of their group.

Breeding season falls between the months of September and November. During this season, the male monkeys with fattened stomachs are desired more by the female monkeys. 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.

The black squirrel monkey is preyed upon by snakes, raptors, and felids. This black squirrel monkeys is omnivorous. It prefers fruit and insects, but also eats leaves, flowers, seeds, eggs, and small vertebrates.

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. There are no negative impacts of the species on the economy because of the species' small habitation range that they occupy.