Spider monkey fact file

Spider monkeys are New World monkeys belonging to the genus Atelespart of the subfamily Atelinae spider monkey fact file, family Atelidae. Like other atelines, they are found in tropical forests of Central and South America, from southern Mexico to Brazil. The genus consists of seven species, all of which are under threat; the brown spider monkey is critically endangered.

Imagine if spiders weighed up to ten kilos, were super smart, could leap from trees and barked at you when they felt threatened. There is, however, a monkey like this. And its spindly legs and tail have earned it the name spider monkey. They are found high in trees in the tropical rainforests of Central and South America. Spider monkeys live in social groups of up to 35 individuals high in the canopy of rainforests, where they forage for food. They diet on fresh fruit and nuts, but will also eat leaves, insects, bird eggs, honey and occasionally flowers.

Spider monkey fact file

Spider monkeys are large New World monkeys that live in tropical rainforests from central Mexico in the north to Bolivia in the south. There are seven species of these agile primates, which get their name from the way their long limbs and tails resemble spider legs as they dangle from branches and swing through the treetops. Four long fingers on each hand help them grasp branches, too. They also have thumbs but those are extremely short. Their tree-to-tree locomotion, called brachiation, is how these swingers get around. Each of the seven spider monkey species differs in geographic range and appearance, although they do share some physical traits and behaviors. White-bellied spider monkeys , which range from Colombia to Peru, for example, have a coat of hair that ranges from black to auburn with a light patch on their foreheads and a chin-to-belly swath of white-to-beige hair. Red-faced spider monkeys are covered in longish black hair except for their bare faces, hands, and feet. Spider monkeys are important seed dispersers for their rainforest homes. When animals eat fruit and nuts from trees and then go on their merry way, they eventually defecate the seeds and spread the tree species throughout the area. Between 50 and 90 percent of seed dispersal in tropical forests is done by animals. Spider monkeys are social, living in groups of up to 40 members.

Spider monkeys have coarse hair all over their bodies that range from brown or black to a dull shade of spider monkey fact file. Depending on the number of predators lurking nearby or the amount of food available, the groups will either interact or compete with each other.

The brown-headed spider monkey has a prehensile tail, which means it can grasp and can be used like a fifth limb to grab trees. During the day, the spider monkey searches for fruit, which makes up the main part of its diet. They spend most of the daylight hours climbing and swinging through the high canopy of trees. The brown-headed spider monkey lives in a large community of about 20 to male and female monkeys. They split into smaller groups for feeding. Females usually give birth to only a single baby each year or two. Young monkeys are carried on their mothers' stomachs until about 16 weeks old.

Spider monkeys are New World monkeys belonging to the genus Ateles , part of the subfamily Atelinae , family Atelidae. Like other atelines, they are found in tropical forests of Central and South America, from southern Mexico to Brazil. The genus consists of seven species, all of which are under threat; the brown spider monkey is critically endangered. They are also notable for their ability to be easily bred in captivity. Disproportionately long limbs and long prehensile tails make them one of the largest New World monkeys and give rise to their common name. Spider monkeys live in the upper layers of the rainforest , and forage in the high canopy, from 25 to 30 m 82 to 98 ft. Recent meta-analyses on primate cognition studies indicated spider monkeys are the most intelligent New World monkeys. They are an important food source due to their large size, so are widely hunted by local human populations; they are also threatened by habitat destruction due to logging and land clearing. Theories abound about the evolution of the atelines ; one theory is they are most closely related to the woolly spider monkeys Brachyteles , and most likely split from woolly monkeys Lagothrix in the South American lowland forest, to evolve their unique locomotory system. Other theories include Brachyteles , Lagothrix and Ateles in an unresolved trichotomy , [6] and two clades, one composed of Ateles and Lagothrix and the other of Alouatta and Brachyteles.

Spider monkey fact file

Spider monkeys are restricted to arboreal habitats, mainly in the top of the tree canopy. They range from sea level to higher ground. A recent intelligence comparison gives spider monkeys a value of a little above a gorillas intelligence, so it is reasonable to believe that spider monkeys are among the most intelligent New World monkeys. They are called spider monkeys because they look like spiders when they are suspended by their tails. The male Spider Monkey has a body length of 38 — 48 centimetres, a tail length of 63 — 82 centimetres and weighs around 9 — 10 kilograms.

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Amazing Animals. Spider monkeys communicate their intentions and observations using postures and stances, such as postures of sexual receptivity and of attack. Spider monkeys have crazy long limbs for this, and make it look totally effortless. Environment Mexico is treating corn from the U. In some situations, when spider monkeys feel especially threatened, they will break off tree branches and drop them on or near the predators or threats. Some spider monkeys have flesh-colored rings around their eyes. Quick facts for kids. Retrieved November 13, Group Name: Troop. Heads are small with hairless faces. All rights reserved. Some protections have been put in place for this species, including local awareness programs in Venezuela and ongoing surveys to find the species and forests that could potentially be protected in Colombia. Fort Rickey Children's Discovery Zoo. Archived from the original on April 23, Colombia, like many countries, commonly cuts down its trees for these purposes, which devastates the habitats of countless unique animals like the spider monkey.

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This pattern not only creates more food for the spider monkeys, it improves the tropical ecosystem for all creatures in the area. Create profiles for personalised advertising. A meta-analysis". They also have thumbs but those are extremely short. They have long, spindly limbs, which explains the spider monkey's common name. BBC Wildlife. Environment Mexico is treating corn from the U. The female chooses a male from her group for mating. As a result, the seeds that they excrete become fertilized by their feces, thus helping with balancing out the ecosystems in the forests they live in. Go Further. Fort Rickey Children's Discovery Zoo. They will also shake tree branches to scare threats away. Researchers In Museums.