Spider monkey fact file

Spider monkeys are New World monkeysgenus Ateles. They are small monkeys, well suited to living in trees. In fact, they rarely come down to the ground. These monkeys move quickly through trees spider monkey fact file swinging and jumping from branch to branch.

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.

Spider monkey fact file

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. They have disproportionately long, spindly limbs which inspired its name, and when they walk on the ground their arms will almost drag on it! They are extremely agile and able to jump between trees. Species range in size, and color. The largest is the black-headed spider monkey with an average weight of 11 kilograms 24 lb and grows up to 60cm 2-feet in length excluding tail. All spider monkey populations are declining, due to habitat destruction and being hunted for food by local populations. Spider monkeys are big!

Spider monkeys can cover as much as 30 feet of distance with a single powerful swoosh of their arms. It also noted that most trysts took place in secret. Their tails are muscular, extremely strong, and often act spider monkey fact file an extra limb.

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.

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.

Spider monkey fact file

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. Then they are strong enough to ride on their mothers' backs. All brown-headed spider monkey infants are born with a pink face and ears.

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Spider monkeys hug each other and wrap their tails around each other. Whitworth, Andrew, et al. Usually the leader female of the whole group is responsible for finding and gathering all the food for the rest of the group. After this, she carries it on her lower back. Evolutionary Psychology. A black-headed spider monkey Ateles fusciceps using its prehensile tail. April 17, An easy way to identify a spider monkey in the wild is to pay attention to their nostrils; this is because their nostrils are very apart from each other and help people identify them. Weight: And, if you look for long enough, you can be persuaded that they quite enjoy it, too. University of California Press. Groups are thought to be directed by a lead female, which is responsible for planning an efficient feeding route each day. They tend to go out and hunt for food, then feed themselves from dawn until mid-morning, usually around 10 AM. Sometimes these branches weigh upwards of 4kg, and when dropped from a height create a significant danger to anyone looking up, including researchers. They have disproportionately long, spindly limbs which inspired its name, and when they walk on the ground their arms will almost drag on it!

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.

Create profiles to personalise content. Travel How to plan the ultimate road trip in Canada. Here's why. Retrieved November 13, A unique adaptation of spider monkeys as compared to other primates is their lack of opposable thumbs on their hands. Retrieved May 10, Their deftly prehensile tails , [13] which may be up to 89 cm 35 in long, have very flexible, hairless tips and skin grooves similar to fingerprints. These tails can grasp and pick things up. Party Animals. Weight: Their forest homes are also being cleared for cattle ranching, agriculture, logging, and human settlements. Spider monkeys are extremely quick, and they have long, thin fingers with almost no hair at all.