Primates
macaques| squirrel monkeys
In the primate order there are 3 families and approximately 235 species.
It includes humans, apes, monkeys, lemurs and other less well-known species.
The word primate means “the first” and comes from earlier
beliefs that these animals were superior to all others in intelligence.
While it is true that non-human primates are highly intelligent, there
are other animals such as whales, elephants and dolphins that are comparable
in their cognitive abilities.
In the wild there are over 100 species of primates that are at risk of
extinction. Habitat loss is leading to this threat.
Cynomolgous macaque
Macaca fascicularis
Macaques include a number of different species that range from India
through northern China and Japan. They live in forests, swamps and even
urban areas. Unique “hair styles” and tail length help in
distinguishing one species from another.
In the wild, macaques form groups of 10-35 individuals. Mature males,
females, and youngsters live together. Adolescent males form a separate
group until they reached full maturity. Though approximately the same
size, males are more dominant than females and can be very aggressive.
As adults, males often move from one family group to another, while females
remain together. Within the troop some individuals will have higher status,
similar to wolves’ alpha system. Higher-ranking monkeys will get
better access to food, grooming and territory.
In wild troops, even males will help to care for the yearlings while
mothers attend to their infants. Some individuals will act as sentries,
watching for outside threats. Canine teeth in males can grow to be 3” long
providing a very effective weapon against enemies.
Omnivorous in habit, macaques have special cheek pouches in which a
great deal of food can be stored. These pouches allow foraging in one
area and then moving to a safe spot to actually eat the food.
Because of their similarities to humans, macaques (especially rhesus
macaques) are frequently used in medical research. The blood antigen
known as the rH factor was first discovered in rhesus macaque monkeys.
Darwin
DOB:
10/4/04
FCZS:
6/20/05
Sex: Male
Weight:
2.5 lbs.
Incredibly adorable newcomer, Darwin, is a cynomolgus macaque. Macaque
monkeys are widely used in medical research and Darwin was the result
of an unexpected pregnancy at a research laboratory.
Raised by elderly
females after his own mother passed away, little Darwin easily took
to senior resident Claudia (a pig-tailed macaque). After Claudia’s
passing in December 2005, Darwin was gradually introduced to
Abu, another macaque. While they were originally separated, the two
youngsters were able to play together and generally get along fairly
well until Abu's sudden passing in August 2006.
Wallace
DOB:
4/19/05
FCZS: 10/12/06
Sex: Male
Weight: 2.6 lbs.
Wallace can be identified by his unique “hairdo” that comes
to a peak at the top of his head. Like his roommate Darwin, he too came
to FCZS from a research facility. In his previous home he had spent time
with many other monkeys, so moving in with Darwin was rather normal for
him. Both males are quite young so issues of dominance were not a problem.
What Wallace was completely fascinated with was dirt. Apparently he had
never seen it before in his laboratory home. He also had not learned
techniques for swinging on ropes, climbing rock walls or splashing in
a pool. With Darwin’s demonstrations, Wallace was in no time doing
all of the above. Both youngsters spend hours each day tumbling, racing,
climbing, splashing and creating general mayhem in their new home in
Folsom.
Squirrel Monkey
Saimiri sciureus
Squirrel monkeys inhabit the forests of Central America and northern
South America. Like other rainforest dwellers they are negatively affected
by the loss of habitat. These monkeys are almost exclusively arboreal.
As a result they are often restricted from their normal range by road
construction, impeding their movements from tree to tree. Troops range
in areas 40 to 100 acres in size and contain 40 to 70 or more individuals.
Yellow-haired arms with black head, nose and mouth distinguish these
active, little monkeys. While small in stature (weighing in at under
3 pounds) the males are actually quite well muscled and larger than the
females, though not generally dominant toward them.
In nature, adult females and youngsters form separate groups from the
males. Other females in the troop will help the mother with infant care.
From birth infants are able to climb and, while young, use their tails
in a prehensile fashion. This ability is lost as they get older.
As with all mammals, these monkeys depend on mother’s milk when
young. When older they eat an omnivorous diet of fruits, nuts, flowers,
insects and even small vertebrates and mollusks. Omnivorous, insectivorous,
and frugivorous are all terms associated with the eating habits of squirrel
monkeys. Omnivores eat both animal and plant products. Insectivores eat
insects. Frugivores are fruit eaters. The type of teeth and digestive
tract an animal has will control the kind of foods it consumes. Squirrel
monkeys have pointed canine teeth and large cusps for securing and grinding
insects. Sharp incisors tear off pieces of fruits and berries. Like all
insect eating animals their digestive system is short. Most of their
water comes from the foods they eat but they can also obtain it from
puddles and rainfall caught in holes on trees.
Normally silent, they do have the ability to communicate with
a variety of loud cries. These cries are used to warn of danger and establish
territory. Group members can track each other through olfactory means.
Urine is secreted on their hands and as they make their way through the
treetops, it is deposited on the branches.
Monita
DOB: March 1995
FCZS: 3/8/96
Sex: Female
Weight: 1.3 lbs
Spanish for ‘little monkey’, Monita arrived at the Folsom
Zoo in October 1998. Like her fellow squirrel monkeys, she had been abandoned
by her mother and needed lots of special care. Monita is the most shy
(or maybe most stubborn) of the FCZS troop. She is currently the only
female, though plans are to add another female to the group.
 Orinoco
DOB:
7/26/97
FCZS:
8/11/97
Sex: Male
Weight:
2.65 lbs.
Arriving in 1997, Orinoco was one of the tiniest residents at the Folsom
City Zoo Sanctuary. He weighed a mere 4 ounces and needed a great deal
of care. Having been rejected by his mother at UC Davis, Orinoco arrived
in an incubator and needed constant attention.
Named after one of the longest rivers in South America, Orinoco is now
an adult. He has gained a bulked up, muscular body; and despite his small
weight is an impressive presence within the troop.
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