ZooBorns

Baby Squirrel Monkey Clings to Mom at Virginia Zoo

A new baby squirrel monkey is now receiving visitors at the Virginia Zoo.

The mother, Marie, delivered sometime late Friday night or early Saturday morning on February 17/18. She was discovered with the baby squirrel monkey clinging to her back Saturday morning by zookeepers. The tiny primate joins its mother, proud papa Jeebes and two other adult females.

"We probably won't name the baby until we know its sex," said zookeeper Aubry Hall, who works with the squirrel monkeys.

Found in the tropical forests of Central and South America, squirrel monkeys spend most of their time in trees and are primarily active during daylight hours. The tiny primates live together in groups of up to 500 males and females. Squirrel monkeys are omnivorous, eating primarily fruits and insects. They live roughly 15 years in the wild, but zoo residents can reach 20 years old.

Photo Credit: Virginia Zoo

More after the jump:

Up Close and Personal with a Baby Squirrel Monkey

On February 1st, the Edmonton Valley Zoo welcomed a tiny baby squirrel monkey. For the next six to ten weeks, the curious but cautious baby will hitch a ride on its mom's and aunts' backs. Until the baby becomes a bit more independent and starts venturing out on its own, zoo staff cannot be sure whether the little ball of monkey is a boy or girl.

Photo credits: City of Edmonton

More info below the fold.

A Squirrelly Little Monkey

Our first entry from Zoo la Boissière du Doré outside of Nantes, France, this little baby Squirrel Monkey clings tightly to mom's back in pictures taken this week. Interestingly Squirrel Monkeys have the largest brain to body mass ratio of any primate at 1:17 (versus 1:35 for a human!).

Photo credits: Frank Wouters

Tiny Squirrel Monkeys Swing into the Colchester Zoo

On November 6th, the 6th baby Squirrel monkey of the season was born at the Colchester Zoo. Since October 15th, the zoo has been averaging two new squirrel monkey babies per week! Babies are cared for communally by the females in the group.