SPIDER MONKEYS
"SPIDER MONKEYS"
The spider monkey is a true monkey. It has nails on its toes and fingers and it possesses a tail that is prehinsile and in many ways more useful to it than its hands or feet.
The spider monkey's tail is its most extraordinary possession. It is longer than the monkeys' body is-over two feet in length in an adult, and composed of twenty-three vertebrae, which give it suppleness and strength. It is longer and narrower than any of the monkey's other limbs and can be used to reach farther and into smaller places than can the animals arms and legs. The monkey can hang by it, swing by it, pick fruit with it, even throw things with it.
The normal means of travel of the spider monkey is known as "brachiation"-a swinging progression from one limb or vine to the next and on to the next that is like the movement of a trapeze artist on swings.
Normally the spider monkey dwells in the topmost branches of tall forest trees, and seldom if ever comes down to the ground.
The spider monkey travels in bands of ten, twenty, or more, often mingling with the capuchin monkey.
genus: Ateles
species: geoffroyi
Appearance It is from 15 to 25 inches in head and body length,
with long limbs and a muscular tail of 20 to 36 inches. The hair
is coarse and stringy. The coloration is yellowish-gray to dark
brown to black, with golden yellow sides and a whitish or
yellowish underside. There are white markings on the face; the
hands and feet are dark brown. Range They are found from Mexico
south to northern Colombia.
Habitat : They are found in both lowland and mountainous rain
forests.
Diet :They eat mostly fruit, along with nuts, seeds, buds,
flowers, insects, and eggs.
Reproduction: The female bears one young after 226 to 232 days
of gestation. There are no breeding seasons.
General Behavior:They are diurnal, feeding primarily in the early morning. The genus is second only to gibbons in being the most agile in trees, using their long tails as a fifth limb. They form troops of from 2 to 30 that tend to frequently break up and rejoin, sometimes with other troops. There are usually only a few males in a group.
Status :The species as a whole is classified as vulnerable.
CONTENTS:
ADORABLE !ANGELS
CAPUCHINSMacaques
MARMOSETTS
MEMBERS MINDYS STORYNEWSLETTERPLACES
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