Spider monkey - wikipedia Spider monkey For other uses, see Spider monkey ( disambiguation ). Spider monkey Black - headed spider monkey ( Ateles fusciceps ) Scientific classification Kingdom : Animalia Phylum : Chordata Class : Mammalia Order : Primates Suborder : Haplorhini Infraorder : Simiiformes Family : Atelidae Subfamily : Atelinae Genus : Ateles E. Geoffroy, 1806 Type species Simia paniscus Linnaeus, 1758 Species Ateles belzebuth Ateles chamek Ateles hybridus Ateles marginatus Ateles fusciceps Ateles geoffroyi Ateles paniscus Range of the spider monkeys 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 contains seven species, all of which are under threat ; the black - headed spider monkey, and brown spider monkey are critically endangered. 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 ). They primarily eat fruits, but will also occasionally consume leaves, flowers, and insects. Due to their large size, spider monkeys require large tracts of moist evergreen forests, and prefer undisturbed primary rainforest. They are social animals and live in bands of up to 35 individuals but will split up to forage during the day. Recent meta - analyses on primate cognition studies indicated spider monkeys are the most intelligent New World monkeys. They can produce a wide range of sounds and will `` bark '' when threatened ; other vocalisations include a whinny similar to a horse and prolonged screams. 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. Spider monkeys are susceptible to malaria and are used in laboratory studies of the disease. The population trend for spider monkeys is decreasing ; the IUCN Red List lists one species as vulnerable, four species as endangered and two species as critically endangered. Contents 1 Evolutionary history 1.1 Taxonomic classification 2 Anatomy and physiology 3 Behavior 4 Diet 5 Reproduction 6 In Mesoamerican cultures 7 References 8 External links Evolutionary history 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 such woolly monkeys as ( Lagothrix and Oreonax ) in the South American lowland forest, to evolve their unique locomotory system. This theory is not supported by fossil evidence. Other theories include Brachyteles, Lagothrix and Ateles in an unresolved trichotomy, and two clades, one composed of Ateles and Lagothrix and the other of Alouatta and Brachyteles. More recent molecular evidence suggests the Atelinae split in the middle to late Miocene ( 13 Ma ), separating spider monkeys from the woolly spider monkeys and the woolly monkeys. Taxonomic classification The genus name Ateles derives from the ancient greek word ἀτέλεια ( atéleia ), meaning `` incomplete, imperfect '', in reference to the reduced or non-existent thumbs of spider monkeys. The genus contains seven species, and seven subspecies. Family Atelidae Subfamily Alouattinae : howler monkeys Subfamily Atelinae Genus Ateles : spider monkeys Red - faced spider monkey, Ateles paniscus White - fronted spider monkey, Ateles belzebuth Peruvian spider monkey, Ateles chamek Brown spider monkey, Ateles hybridus White - cheeked spider monkey, Ateles marginatus Black - headed spider monkey, Ateles fusciceps Brown - headed spider monkey, Ateles fusciceps fusciceps Colombian spider monkey, Ateles fusciceps rufiventris Geoffroy 's spider monkey, Ateles geoffroyi Hooded spider monkey Ateles geoffroyi grisescens Yucatan spider monkey, Ateles geoffroyi yucatanensis Mexican spider monkey, Ateles geoffroyi vellerosus Nicaraguan spider monkey, Ateles geoffroyi geoffroyi Ornate spider monkey, Ateles geoffroyi ornatus Genus Brachyteles : muriquis ( woolly spider monkeys ) Genus Lagothrix : woolly monkeys Genus Oreonax : the yellow - tailed woolly monkey Anatomy and physiology Geoffroy 's spider monkey Spider monkey skeleton on display at The Museum of Osteology, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Spider monkeys are among the largest New World monkeys ; black - headed spider monkeys, the largest spider monkey, have an average weight of 11 kilograms ( 24 lb ) for males and 9.66 kg ( 21.3 lb ) for females. Disproportionately long, spindly limbs inspired the spider monkey 's common name. Their deftly prehensile tails, which may be up to 89 cm ( 35 in ) long, have very flexible, hairless tips and skin grooves similar to fingerprints. This adaptation to their strictly arboreal lifestyle serves as a fifth hand. When the monkey walks, its arms practically drag on the ground. Unlike many monkeys, they do not use their arms for balance when walking, instead relying on their tails. The hands are long, narrow and hook - like, and have reduced or non-existent thumbs. The fingers are elongated and recurved. Their hair is coarse, ranging in color from ruddy gold to brown and black, or white in a rare number of specimens. The hands and feet are usually black. Heads are small with hairless faces. The nostrils are very far apart, which is a distinguishing feature of spider monkeys. Spider monkeys are highly agile, and they are said to be second only to the gibbons in this respect. They have been seen in the wild jumping from tree to tree. Female spider monkeys have a clitoris that is especially developed ; it may be referred to as a pseudo-penis because it has an interior passage, or urethra, that makes it almost identical to the penis, and retains and distributes urine droplets as the female moves around. This urine is emptied at the bases of the clitoris, and collects in skin folds on either side of a groove on the perineal. Researchers and observers of spider monkeys of South America look for a scrotum to determine the animal sex because these female spider monkeys have pendulous and erectile clitorises long enough to be mistaken for a penis ; researchers may also determine the animal 's sex by identifying scent - marking glands that may be present on the clitoris. Behavior As is the case with all species of spider monkeys, the brown spider monkey is threatened by hunting and habitat loss. Spider monkeys form loose groups, typically with 15 to 25 individuals, but sometimes up to 30 or 40. During the day, groups break up into subgroups of two to eight animals. The size of subgroups and the degree to which they avoid each other during the day depends on food competition and the risk of predation. The average subgroup size is between 2 and 8 but can sometimes be up to 17 animals. Also less common in primates, females rather than males disperse at puberty to join new groups. Males tend to stick together for their whole lives. Hence, males in a group are more likely to be related and have closer bonds than females. The strongest social bonds are formed between females and their young offspring. Spider monkey standing at the edge of a boat Spider monkeys communicate their intentions and observations using postures and stances, such as postures of sexual receptivity and of attack. When a spider monkey sees a human approaching, it barks loudly similar to a dog. When a monkey is approached, it climbs to the end of the branch it is on and shakes it vigorously to scare away the possible threat. It shakes the branches with its feet, hands, or a combination while hanging from its tail. It may also scratch its limbs or body with various parts of its hands and feet. Seated monkeys may sway and make noise. Males and occasionally adult females growl menacingly at the approach of a human. If the pursuer continues to advance, the monkeys often break off live or dead tree limbs weighing up to 4 kilograms ( 8.8 lb ) and drop them towards the intruder. They do not actually throw the branches, but twist to cause the branch to fall closer to the threat. The monkeys also defecate and urinate toward the intruder. Spider monkeys are diurnal and spend the night sleeping in carefully selected trees. Groups are thought to be directed by a lead female, which is responsible for planning an efficient feeding route each day. Grooming is not as important to social interaction, owing perhaps to a lack of thumbs. Spider monkeys have been observed avoiding the upper canopy of the trees for locomotion. One researcher speculated this was because the thin branches at the tops of trees do not support the monkeys as well. At 107 grams ( 3.8 oz ), the spider monkey brain is twice the size of the brain of a howler monkey of equivalent body size ; this is thought to be a result of the spider monkeys ' complex social system and their frugivorous diets, which consist primarily of ripe fruit from a wide variety ( over 150 species ) of plants. This requires the monkeys to remember when and where fruit can be found. The slow development may also play a role : the monkeys may live from 20 to 27 years or more, and females give birth once every 17 to 45 months. Gummy, presumably the oldest living spider monkey in captivity, is presumed to have been born wild in 1962 and currently resides at Fort Rickey Childrens Discovery Zoo located in Rome, NY. Diet Geoffroy 's spider monkey ( Ateles geoffroyi ) browsing, showing the exceptionally long limbs that give them their name. The diets of spider monkeys consist of about 70 to 85 percent of fruits and nuts. They can live for long periods on only one or two kinds of fruits and nuts. They eat the fruits of many big forest trees, and because they swallow fruits whole, the seeds are eventually excreted and fertilized by the feces. Studies show the diet of spider monkeys changes their reproductive, social, and physical behavioral patterns. Most feeding happens from dawn to 10 am. Afterward, the adults rest while the young play. Through the rest of the day, they may feed infrequently until around 10 pm. If food is scarce, they may eat insects, leaves, bird eggs, bark and honey. Spider monkeys have a unique way of getting food : a lead female is generally responsible for finding food sources. If she can not find enough food for the group, it splits into smaller groups that forage separately. The traveling groups have four to nine animals. Each group is closely associated with its territory. If the group is big, it spreads out. Reproduction The female chooses a male from her group for mating. Both males and females use `` anogenital sniffing '' to check their mates for readiness for copulation. The gestation period ranges from 226 to 232 days. Each female bears only one offspring on average, every three to four years. Until six to ten months of age, infants rely completely on their mothers. Males are not involved in raising the offspring. A mother carries her infant around her belly for the first month after birth. After this, she carries it on her lower back. The infant wraps its tail around its mother 's and tightly grabs her midsection. Mothers are very protective of their young and are generally attentive mothers. They have been seen grabbing their young and putting them on their backs for protection and to help them navigate from tree to tree. They help the more independent young to cross by pulling branches closer together. Mothers also groom their young. Male spider monkeys are one of the few primates who do not have a baculum. In Mesoamerican cultures Spider monkeys are found in many aspects of the Mesoamerican cultures. In the Aztec 260 - day calendar, Spider Monkey ( Nahua Ozomatli ) serves as the name for the 11th day. In the corresponding Maya calendar, Howler Monkey ( Batz ) is substituted for Spider Monkey. In present - day Maya religious feasts, spider monkey impersonators serve as a kind of demonic clowns. In Classical Maya art, they are ubiquitous, often shown carrying cacao pods. References ^ Jump up to : Groves, C.P. ( 2005 ). Wilson, D.E. ; Reeder, D.M., eds. Mammal Species of the World : A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference ( 3rd ed. ). Baltimore : Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 150 -- 151. ISBN 0 - 801 - 88221 - 4. OCLC 62265494. ^ Jump up to : Cawthon Lang, KA ( April 10, 2007 ). `` Primate Factsheets : Black spider monkey ( Ateles fisciceps ) Taxonomy, Morphology, and Ecology ''. Wisconsin Primate Research Center ( WPRC ). Retrieved May 20, 2009. ^ Jump up to : `` Spider monkey ''. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 2009. Retrieved May 20, 2009. Jump up ^ Deaner, R.O. ; van Schaik, C.P. & Johnson, V.E. ( 2006 ). `` Do some taxa have better domain - general cognition than others ? A meta - analysis '' ( PDF ). Evolutionary Psychology. 4 : 149 -- 196. Jump up ^ Kinzey, W.G. ( 1997 ). New world primates : ecology, evolution, and behavior. Aldine Transaction. ISBN 0 - 202 - 01186 - 0. Jump up ^ Ford, S.M. ( 1986 ). `` Systematics of the New World monkeys ''. In Swindler, D.R. ; Erwin, J. Comparative Primate Biology, Volume I : Systematics, Evolution and Anatomy. New York : Alan R. Liss. pp. 73 -- 135. Jump up ^ Kay, R.F. ( 1990 ). `` The phyletic relationships of extant and fossil Pitheciinae ( Platyrrhini, Anthropoidea ) ''. Journal of Human Evolution. 19 : 175 -- 208. doi : 10.1016 / 0047 - 2484 ( 90 ) 90016 - 5. Jump up ^ Schneider, H. ( 2000 ). `` The Current Status of the New World Monkey Phylogeny ''. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências. 72 ( 2 ) : 165. doi : 10.1590 / S0001 - 37652000000200005. Retrieved May 20, 2009. Jump up ^ Bailly, Anatole ( 1981 - 01 - 01 ). Abrégé du dictionnaire grec français. Paris : Hachette. ISBN 2010035283. OCLC 461974285. Jump up ^ Bailly, Anatole. `` Greek - french dictionary online ''. www.tabularium.be. Retrieved 2017 - 01 - 24. Jump up ^ Youlatos, D. ( 2002 ). `` Positional behavior of black spider monkeys ( Ateles paniscus ) in French Guiana ''. International Journal of Primatology. 23 ( 5 ) : 1071 -- 93. 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Department of Anthropology. St. Louis, Missouri : Washington University : 191 -- 192. Jump up ^ `` Spider monkey ''. Planet Wild Life. Retrieved November 12, 2013. Jump up ^ Corrie Agnew. `` A Spider Monkey 's Life in the Canopy ''. Demand Media. PawNation. Retrieved November 10, 2013. ^ Jump up to : Carpenter, C.R. ( August 1935 ). `` Behavior of Red Spider Monkeys in Panama ''. Journal of Mammalogy. 16 ( 3 ) : 171 -- 180. doi : 10.2307 / 1374442. JSTOR 1374442. ^ Jump up to : `` Spider Monkey ''. Macalester College. Mac Como Zoo. Retrieved November 10, 2013. ^ Jump up to : `` Association patterns of spider monkeys : The influence of ecology and sex on social organization '' ( PDF ). Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. 1990. pp. 409 -- 414. Jump up ^ Allen, William ( English cardinal ). `` On standby for the new ark : if spider monkeys are chosen to ride out the ' demographic winter, ' here is what latter - day Noahs will have to know. '' The Sciences 34. n5 ( Sept - Oct 1994 ) : 15 ( 3 ). Expanded Academic ASAP. Gale. BENTLEY UPPER SCHOOL LIBRARY ( BAISL ). 6 Oct. 2009 http://find.galegroup.com/gtx/start.do?prodId=EAIM Jump up ^ Milton, Katharine ( 2000 ). Alan Goodman ; Darna Dufour ; Gretel Pelto, eds. Diet and Primate Evolution. Nutritional Anthropology : Biocultural Perspectives on Food and Nutrition. Mountain View, California : Mayfield Publishing Company. pp. 46 -- 54. ^ Jump up to : Maurice Burton & Robert Burton ( 2002 ). International Wildlife Encyclopedia. pp. 2477 -- 2479. Jump up ^ Carrol L. Henderson ( 2002 ). `` Field Guide to the Wildlife of Costa Rica '' : 454. Jump up ^ `` Oldest Spider Monkey In The World At Fort Rickey ''. Fort Rickey Childrens Discovery Zoo. Fort Rickey Childrens Discover Zoo. Retrieved November 13, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Wildlife and Plants ''. 16 ( 3rd ed. ). Marshall Cavendish Corporation. 2007 : 1009. Jump up ^ Gordon, Nick. `` The Spider Monkey and the Rainforest ''. BBC Wildlife Magazine -- Monkey business. Archived from the original on July 12, 2007. Retrieved October 5, 2007. Jump up ^ Christina J. Campbell ( 25 September 2008 ). Spider Monkeys : The Biology, Behavior and Ecology of the Genus Ateles. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978 - 1 - 316 - 58310 - 4. Jump up ^ Harvey, Suzanne. `` How Did Man Lose His Penis Bone ? ''. University College London, Researchers In Museums blog, 26 November 2012. Jump up ^ Ann Bingham ( 2004 ). South and Meso - American Mythology A to Z. Facts on File Inc. p. 77. ISBN 0 - 8160 - 4889 - 4. Jump up ^ `` The Maya Monkey ''. Meso - America Foundation. Retrieved November 12, 2013. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ateles. Wikispecies has information related to spider monkey Black Spider Monkey ( Ateles paniscus ) Primate Info Net Ateles Factsheets Spider Monkey Pictures Extant species of family Atelidae Kingdom : Animalia Phylum : Chordata Class : Mammalia Order : Primates Suborder : Haplorrhini Alouattinae Alouatta ( Howler monkeys ) A. palliata group : Coiba Island howler ( A. coibensis ) Mantled howler ( A. palliata ) Guatemalan black howler ( A. pigra ) A. seniculus group : Ursine howler ( A. arctoidea ) Red - handed howler ( A. belzebul ) Spix 's red - handed howler ( A. discolor ) Brown howler ( A. guariba ) Juruá red howler ( A. juara ) Guyanan red howler ( A. macconnelli ) Amazon black howler ( A. nigerrima ) Purus red howler ( A. puruensis ) Bolivian red howler ( A. sara ) Venezuelan red howler ( A. seniculus ) Maranhão red - handed howler ( A. ululata ) A. caraya group : Black howler ( A. caraya ) Atelinae Ateles ( Spider monkeys ) Red - faced spider monkey ( A. paniscus ) White - bellied spider monkey ( A. belzebuth ) Peruvian spider monkey ( A. chamek ) Brown spider monkey ( A. hybridus ) White - cheeked spider monkey ( A. marginatus ) Black - headed spider monkey ( A. fusciceps ) Geoffroy 's spider monkey ( A. geoffroyi ) Brachyteles ( Muriquis ) Southern muriqui ( B. arachnoides ) Northern muriqui ( B. hypoxanthus ) Lagothrix ( Woolly monkeys ) Brown woolly monkey ( L. lagotricha ) Gray woolly monkey ( L. cana ) Colombian woolly monkey ( L. lugens ) Silvery woolly monkey ( L. poeppigii ) Oreonax Yellow - tailed woolly monkey ( O. flavicauda ) Taxon identifiers Wd : Q258244 ADW : Ateles EoL : 41555 Fossilworks : 92603 GBIF : 2436640 ITIS : 572812 MSW : 12100393 NCBI : 9506 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Spider_monkey&oldid=826118743 '' Categories : Atelinae Hidden categories : Wikipedia pages semi-protected against vandalism Articles with ' species ' microformats Wikipedia articles needing clarification from February 2009 All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from October 2017 Articles with unsourced statements from November 2013 Talk View source Contents About Wikipedia Wikispecies বাংলা Català Cebuano Dansk Deutsch Español Esperanto Euskara فارسی Français 한국어 Hrvatski Italiano עברית ქართული Кырык мары Лакку Лезги Lietuvių Magyar Nederlands Norsk nynorsk Олык марий پنجابی Polski Português Runa Simi Русский Simple English Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Svenska ไทย Удмурт Українська اردو Tiếng Việt Winaray 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 17 February 2018, at 08 : 43. 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Question: where does a spider monkey live in the rainforest
Answer: the upper layers of the rainforest