Before the taxon was split, it had been considered to be found within the countries of Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela;[2] a small population has been introduced to Florida and many of the Caribbean Islands.
[4][5] A group of free-ranging individuals was spotted and photographed in 2009 at the Tijuca Forest in Rio de Janeiro – possibly the result of an illegal release or of an escape from the pet trade;[9] by 2010, the squirrel monkey had begun to be considered as an invasive species in the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest, and concerns were expressed about its role as a predator of eggs of endangered bird species.
[12] In the 1960s, a colony of twelve to fifteen common squirrel monkeys was noted residing in a hammock of trees by the springs; they migrated downstream to the Ocklawaha River by 1975.
Another population, derived from two pairs released in the 1960s, lives on the Bartlett Estate in Broward County; they numbered 43 in 1988.
In 1976, 15 squirrel monkeys escaped from the Tropic Wonderland attraction in Titusville, Florida; their descendants have since become established in the area.
In the 1980s, 500 and 1000 common squirrel monkeys remained in the shuttered Masterpiece Gardens park in Polk County, persisting despite efforts to capture them.
Additionally, a "semi-free-ranging" population has existed at Monkey Jungle in Goulds in Miami-Dade County since 1960.
[11] Common squirrel monkeys are considered both frugivorous and insectivorous, preferring berry-like fruit on branches.
When in captivity, squirrel monkeys are fed fruits such as apples, oranges, grapes, and bananas.
The amount of time squirrel monkeys spend foraging depends on the type of food.
[15] Though juveniles play and jump around an appreciable amount during phases of high activity, they usually stay close to the adult females.
[18] Adult males are generally socially inactive during the birth season and spend their time travelling and foraging at a distance from the group.
[15] Overall, intersexual interaction among common squirrel monkeys greatly increases during the mating season.
[20] Many other aspects of common squirrel monkey social behavior, such as dominance relationships, coalitions, dispersal patterns, and aggression, stem from the feeding ecology of the animals.
If they become a peripheral of another group, the male squirrel monkey chooses one troop and keeps a certain distance away from them while still trying to follow them.
Several theories suggest that one of the reasons that male squirrel monkeys do not form coalitions is because of the lack of kinship due to emigration.
Prior to the taxon being splits, common squirrel monkeys were rated as "least concern" by IUCN,[2] but subject to being harmed by deforestation.
Due to their inquisitive and playful nature, these common squirrel monkeys are popular pets.