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Central American Squirrel Monkey
Saimiri oerstedii
Silhouette: PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassMammalia (Mammals)
- OrderPrimates
- FamilyCebidae (Cebid Monkeys)
- GenusSaimiri (Squirrel Monkeys)
- SpeciesSaimiri oerstedii (Central American Squirrel Monkey)
In 3 days ~90% in a week >90%
629 Verified sightings at Manuel Antonio National Park From 2019 to 2026
1,476 In all 5 parks
February Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted
About the Central American Squirrel Monkey
The Central American squirrel monkey (Saimiri oerstedii), also known as the red-backed squirrel monkey, is a squirrel monkey species from the Pacific coast of Costa Rica and Panama. It is restricted to the northwestern tip of Panama near the border with Costa Rica, and the central and southern Pacific coast of Costa Rica, primarily in Manuel Antonio and Corcovado National Parks.
It is a small monkey with an orange back and a distinctive white and black facial mask. It has an omnivorous diet, eating fruits, other plant materials, invertebrates and some small vertebrates. In turn, it has a number of predators, including raptors, cats and snakes. It lives in large groups that typically contain between 20 and 75 monkeys. It has one of the most egalitarian social structures of all monkeys. Females do not form dominance hierarchies, and males do so only at breeding season. Females become sexually mature at 2+1⁄2 years, and males at 4 to 5 years. Sexually mature females leave the natal group, but males can remain with their natal group their entire life. The Central American squirrel monkey can live for more than 15 years.
The Central American squirrel monkey population declined precipitously after the 1970s. This decline is believed to be caused by deforestation, hunting, and capture to be kept as pets. Efforts are underway to preserve the species. Wikipedia →
Sounds
Recording0:06
Panama · 2025
© Rodriguez Ariel · iNaturalist · CC BY-NC 4.0
Recent sightings of Central American Squirrel Monkey in Manuel Antonio National Park
LIVEiNaturalistGlobal Distribution
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manuel Antonio National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 2 | Corcovado National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 3 | Piedras Blancas National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 4 | La Amistad International Park (Panama) | 🇵🇦 Panama | |
| 5 | Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica |
Zoos & Centres Where Found
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Copenhagen Zoo | 🇩🇰 Denmark | |
| 2 | Oakland Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Parque Municipal Summit | 🇵🇦 Panama | |
| 4 | Zoo La Barben | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 5 | Wilhelma | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 6 | ZooParc Overloon | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | |
| 7 | Faunia | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 8 | Safari Lake Geneva | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 9 | Touroparc Zoo | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 10 | World of Birds Wildlife Sanctuary and Monkey Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 11 | Parque Zoológico Nacional Simón Bolívar | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 12 | Ecozoológico San Martín | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 13 | El Nispero Zoo | 🇵🇦 Panama | |
| 14 | Núcleo Zoológico el Bosque | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 15 | Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica |
Closest Relatives at Manuel Antonio National Park
Before you go
What are the chances of seeing a Central American Squirrel Monkey in Manuel Antonio National Park?
Likely
About 60% of wildlife watchers report a Central American Squirrel Monkey sighting in Manuel Antonio National Park on a given day, based on 629 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 6th most-seen of the 18 mammals we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 90%, and over a week to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
When is the best time to see a Central American Squirrel Monkey in Manuel Antonio National Park?
February and April
In those months about 70% of wildlife watchers report a Central American Squirrel Monkey in Manuel Antonio National Park on a given day, against about 40% in September, the lowest month. Those are among Manuel Antonio National Park's driest months, with about 120 mm of rain a month against 950 mm in October.
What time of day is best to see a Central American Squirrel Monkey?
Between 9 am and noon
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Central American Squirrel Monkey sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Is Manuel Antonio National Park the best place to see a Central American Squirrel Monkey?
Yes
Of the 5 parks where we can rate Central American Squirrel Monkey sightings, Manuel Antonio National Park has the highest daily chance: about 60%. Next come Corcovado National Park (Costa Rica, about 60%) and Piedras Blancas National Park (Costa Rica, about 40%).
Where does the Central American Squirrel Monkey sighting chance come from?
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Central American Squirrel Monkey is recorded against all the mammals logged in Manuel Antonio National Park (629 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
