The squirrel monkey lives in the canopy level of tropical rain forests trees from sea level to 3,000 feet, sometimes descending to the ground to retrieve food. They are found from Costa Rica to Panama as well as north and central South America. They eat mostly insects and ripe fruit, as well as nuts, flowers, buds, seeds, leaves, and trees, gum or sap. These monkeys are usually found in groups of thirty to forty, but may be more than one-hundred. Several females in the group produce a single baby each year, with births seasonal and synchronous. Males take to part in raising their young, but other females assist the mother. Squirrel monkeys have short fur, usually yellow-green on their backs and limbs. Their undersides, faces, and ears are pale. Their muzzles and the tips of their tails are black. squirrel monkey's head and body length are nine to fifteen feet long, and their tails are fourteen to eighteen inches long. Their life span while in captivity is nine years or older. Habitat conversion for farming is a threat to all habitats of this species.