How to ‘Speak’ Squirrel Monkey
As well as screams and high pitched ‘peep’ and ‘twitter’ calls, squirrel monkeys
communicate with visual signals and social behaviours. This poster shows just some
of the many behaviour patterns. You have to watch these monkeys very carefully to see
some of these behaviours, because squirrel monkeys live life at a fast pace!
Visual Signals and Behaviours
Grimace Mount Ear Wiggle
When a squirrel monkey shows its In young squirrel monkeys this is a Squirrel monkeys can communicate
teeth in a ‘grimace’, this can signal common part of play, and may also with their ears. This male is relaxed
aggression. The squirrel monkey be a dominant gesture. Adult males with his ears forward, but he might
may grimace when it feels threat- are more likely to mount females flatten them backwards when ap-
ened. during the breeding season. proaching a female.
Submissive Huddle Genital Display Push
When a squirrel monkey feels Both males and females perform Squirrel monkeys will often push
threatened, it might crouch and this display. One leg hangs below a each other away when they get too
curl up with its head down and its branch to reveal the genitals, signal- close. This happens especially when
tail wrapped around its body. It may ling excitement in young, and domi- one monkey is trying to take another
also grimace at the other monkey. nance or courtship in adult males. monkey’s food!
Pull Tail Mutual Genital Display Arched Back Squirrel Monkey Social Behaviour Guide
Squirrel monkeys may pull each oth- When two monkeys are ‘testing’ Here, an adult male is arching his Part of the Living Links ‘Measuring behaviour teacher pack’
ers tails when they are playing, but each other, they might both per- back to make himself look bigger,
it can also be used as an aggressive form a genital display and examine perhaps defending the female by his For further information and more resources go to www.living-links.org
action. The squirrel monkey some- each other closely. Both males and side. This may be used as a threat
times even do this to the capuchins! females perform this display. toward other males.
Play Lick or Sniff Fight
Squirrel monkeys are very active, Smell is very important to squirrel Squirrel monkeys are very active and
and a lot of the chasing and fighting monkeys, and they can learn about often squabble. Most of the chasing
that you might see is actually play. other group members by sniffing or at Living Links is actually play. Real
Both adult and young monkeys are tasting the interesting odours they fights are much noisier. These ar-
very playful. produce. guments are rarely serious.
