squirrel monkey

noun

: any of several small soft-haired South American monkeys (genus Saimiri, especially S. sciureus of the family Cebidae) that have a long tail not used for grasping and are colored chiefly yellowish gray with a white face and black muzzle

Examples of squirrel monkey in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The person then headed for the squirrel monkey exhibit and broke into the main house where monkeys sleep. Bynadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 2 Feb. 2023 The disease has experimentally been shown to infect squirrel monkeys and lab mice that carry some human genes. Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Nov. 2023 When this occurred, the capuchins and squirrel monkeys anticipated correctly, while the marmosets missed out on their reward. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 4 Apr. 2023 The Reid Park Zoo in Tucson announced Wednesday the death of one of its two squirrel monkeys, which reportedly died due to complications during pregnancy. Fernando Cervantes Jr., The Arizona Republic, 13 July 2023 The squirrel monkeys were tested with mealworms and were fooled 93 percent of the time. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 4 Apr. 2023 While less dexterous than their capuchin counterparts, squirrel monkeys have limited thumb rotation, but can oppose their thumbs. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 4 Apr. 2023 This January, 12 squirrel monkeys were stolen from a zoo in Louisiana. Jamie Landers, Dallas News, 14 Mar. 2023 The walkways near these exhibits mirror the animal habitats, with kids able to run and jump on roped bridges, platforms and a mock tree that resembles the design of the squirrel monkey exhibit. San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Oct. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'squirrel monkey.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1773, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of squirrel monkey was in 1773

Dictionary Entries Near squirrel monkey

Cite this Entry

“Squirrel monkey.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/squirrel%20monkey. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.

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