The social organizations of squirrel monkeys: Implications for ecological models of social evolution

Abstract

“Squirrel‐monkeys occur in a considerable number of slightly different forms, but all are built upon a similar body plan and have a basic color scheme. One of the larger races—from inner Perú—is also the most colorful and one of the brightest colored of all mammals. It may be taken as a point of departure. The top of the head and the upper and outer parts of the body and the upper side of the basal half of the tail are a vivid green, with a pepper and salt effect of yellow and gray. The face is pure white except for black spectacles, muzzle and chin; the throat, chest, underside, insides of limbs, and the underside of the basal half of the tail are brilliant daffodil yellow. The terminal half of the tail is jet black and rather bushy. The flesh of the hands is pale pink. Other races vary in the intensity of the green and yellow, so that some may be olive brown above and white below, and in the amount and arrangement of the black areas on the face and the tip of the tail. Some have almost naked ears, others have these organs clothed in short fur, and still others bear thereupon long tufts or fringes. All these variations seem to blend into the other geographically . . . some of these pure color variations may constitute valid regional subspecies or even species. . . .” I. T. Sanderson1 (p. 77).

Ecological models of female social relationships in primates: similarities, disparities, and some directions for future clarity

“…Mitchell et al, 1991;Borries, 1993;Barton et al, 1996;Sterck et al, 1997;Koenig et al, 1998;Boinski, 1999;Koenig, 2000;Steenbeek & van Schaik, 2001). The same observation is sometimes consistent with all three models.…”

Ontogeny of joint mechanics in squirrel monkeys (Saimiri boliviensis): functional implications for mammalian limb growth and locomotor development

“…As a result, most squirrel monkey populations are under intense predation pressure (Fedigan et al, 1996). Predation risk has profoundly affected many aspects of squirrel monkey biology, including growth and development (Boinski, 1987;Boinski, 1999;Boinski et al, 2003). In a study of red squirrel monkey (Saimiri oerstedi) behavioral ecology in Costa Rica, Boinski (Boinski, 1987) found that infants experienced higher rates of predation than any other age class, with more than 50% of infants dying within the first six months of life.…”

“…By six months of age, when juveniles are only 40-50% of adult size, foraging activity and locomotor repertoires are generally indistinguishable from adults (Boinski, 1989;Boinski and Fragaszy, 1989). Moreover, once juvenile squirrel monkeys have become independent, they must travel an average of 2-4 km day -1 to remain with the group and gain access to distributed foraging resources, such as fruit and invertebrate prey (Terborgh, 1983;Mitchell, 1990;Boinski, 1999). In summary, squirrel monkeys are an excellent group in which to investigate how developmental changes in limb mechanics might impact locomotor performance in young mammals.…”

Sexual dimorphism in the squirrel monkey, Saimiri sciureus (Linnaeus, 1758) and Saimiri ustus (I. Geoffroy, 1844) (Primates, Cebidae)

“…New World monkeys present an useful group for examining hypotheses of sexual dimorphism. Squirrel monkeys probably exhibit the most extensive geographic variation in social organization compared with other primates (Boinski and Cropp, 1999;Boinski, 1999). Radiation includes some well-defined monophyletic clades within which phylogeny can be controlled.…”