biology

Humboldt's squirrel monkey

Humboldt's squirrel monkey is a biology topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Humboldt's squirrel monkey rather than just read about it. In short: Humboldt's squirrel monkey (Saimiri cassiquiarensis) is a species of squirrel monkey from Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. It had previously been considered a subspecies of the common squirrel monkey, S. sciureus, but was elevated to full species status based on a genetic study by Carretero-Pinzón in 2009.

Key takeaways

Humboldt's squirrel monkey belongs to biology; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Humboldt's squirrel monkey to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Humboldt's squirrel monkey from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Humboldt's squirrel monkey (Saimiri cassiquiarensis) is a species of squirrel monkey from Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. It had previously been considered a subspecies of the common squirrel monkey, S. sciureus, but was elevated to full species status based on a genetic study by Carretero-Pinzón in 2009. A genetic study by Jessica Lynch Alfaro, et al indicated that the Ecuadorian squirrel monkey may be synonymous with Saimiri cassiquiarensis. As of 2018, the Ecuadorian squirrel monkey is generally regarded as a subspecies of Humboldt's squirrel monkey, S. cassiquiarensis macrodon. Humboldt's squirrel monkey have a head and body length of between 25 and 37 cm (9.8 and 14.6 in) with a tail between 36 and 45 cm (14 and 18 in). Its coloration is similar to that of the Guianan squirrel monkey but the fur on the base of the crown is golden yellow as compared with gray for the Guianan squirrel monkey. It eats fruits when available, primarily between January and June, and also eats insects. It is named after the Prussian naturalist and explorer Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859).

References

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Humboldt's squirrel monkey

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Humboldt's squirrel monkey claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In biology, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Humboldt's squirrel monkey before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Humboldt's squirrel monkey ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Humboldt's squirrel monkey

In research: Humboldt's squirrel monkey appears in biology research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Humboldt's squirrel monkey in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Humboldt's squirrel monkey is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Arboreal mammals, IUCN Red List least concern species, Mammals described in 1840, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Humboldt's squirrel monkey outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Humboldt's squirrel monkey in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Humboldt's squirrel monkey means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Humboldt's squirrel monkey out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Humboldt's squirrel monkey in simple terms?

Why does Humboldt's squirrel monkey matter?

Because it connects several biology ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Humboldt's squirrel monkey?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Humboldt's squirrel monkey.