Central American Squirrel Monkey
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[Photo] Central American Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri oerstedii). Costa Rica 2005, Brian Gratwicke (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Brian.gratwicke)

The Central American Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri oerstedii) is a squirrel monkey species from Central America. It is found in Costa Rica and Panama on the Pacific coast. Even within Costa Rica and Panama the Central American Squirrel Monkey's range is highly restricted. Within Panama its range is limited to the Northern Pacific tip near the Costa Rica border, and within Costa Rica its range is limited to the Central and Southern Pacific coast, primarily in Maunuel Antonio and Corcovado National Parks.

It has been estimated that the population of the Central American Squirrel Monkey has been reduced from about 200,000 in the 1970s to less than 5000. This is believed to be largely due to deforestation, hunting, and capture for the pet trade. There are significant efforts within Costa Rica to try to preserve this monkey from extinction.

The Central American Squirrel Monkey differs in coloration from squirrel monkeys from South American. While South American squirrel monkeys tend to be primarily greenish in color, the Central American Squirrel Monkey has a reddish brown back with grey legs and white undersides. There is a black cap at the top of the head, and a black tip at the end of the tail. The face is white with black rims around the eyes and black around the nose and mouth.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_American_Squirrel_Monkey

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