There are two species of squirrel monkey (the other being the common squirrel monkey) and they are the commonest primates in the forests of Central America.

Subspecies
Two.

Life span
Unknown.

Statistics
Head and body length: 27cm, Tail length: 36cm, Weight: Female: 600-790g, Male: 750-950g.

Physical description
Red-backed squirrel monkeys have a black crown, with golden orange feet, hands and back. They have a long tail with a black tip, and black pointed arches over the eyes, a white mask and a black muzzle.

Distribution
Red-backed squirrel monkeys inhabit Panama and Costa Rica.

Habitat
They inhabit dense lowland forests.

Diet
Red-backed squirrel monkeys feed on fruit, leaves, seeds and insects.

Behaviour
They have large multimale-multifemale social groups, with between 10 and 35 individuals. The group do not interact very much, although juveniles will play together. Red-backed squirrel monkeys are diurnal and arboreal. The males are aggressive to other troops, and females lead the troop to food sources. They are quadrupedal and are capable of leaping.

Reproduction
Little is known about their reproductive behaviour, but they give birth to just one infant.

Conservation status
Red-backed squirrel monkeys are listed as Endangered by the 2000 IUCN Red List, particularly because of deforestation and the use of insecticides, which kill their insect prey.