Download the monkey booklet - Cloudbridge Nature Reserve

THE MONKEY BOOKLET
The Monkeys of Cloudbridge Nature Reserve
Visitor Participation Booklet
Thank you for carrying this booklet on your hike today. Please take a
Monkey Questionnaire and a pencil with you, as well. As a friendly
reminder, please don’t forget to return the booklet, questionnaire,
and pencil before leaving the reserve today.
In this booklet you’ll find
•
Images and background information for the two species of
monkeys that live in the Cloudbridge Nature Reserve
•
Images of a few trees and plants that monkeys visit or eat
•
Images of other mammals that may be mistaken for monkeys
•
A map of the reserve
You may want to look at the Monkey Questionnaire before your
hike, so that you know what to look for. ¡Gracias!
This booklet was paid for by visitor donations to Cloudbridge
Ateles geoffroyi (commonly referred to as
spider monkey, mono araña, and mono
colorado) These monkeys range from Mexico
to Colombia, from sea level to at least 2,800
meters (the entrance to Cloudbridge is at
approximately 1,560 meters). They occur
mostly in large expanses of old growth
(primary) forest. By day, these monkeys forage
in the upper levels of the canopy. They spend
most of their time eating fruits, as well as the
young leaves of trees such as figs and
Cecropias, flowers, bark, insects, and honey.
Their long arms and strong fingers allow them
to brachiate, to swing hand to hand among
branches. They have a strong prehensile
(branch wrapping) tail which is sometimes used to move through trees.
They live in large groups of 20 to 40 individuals and typically break off into
much smaller groups of two to six individuals during the day. Births may
occur at any time of year and the young ride on the mother for
approximately the first three months. It is difficult to tell the sex of an
individual spider monkey; males and females look alike. They make many
different sounds including raspy squeaks, screams, and horse-like
whinnies. They are important seed dispersers; after consuming fruits, the
seeds pass through their digestive tracts and then germinate in the
environment. Populations are vulnerable to deforestation and we are
hoping that their numbers increase as the Cloudforest reforestation
project continues. (Adapted from The
Natural History of Costa Rican Mammals, by
Mark Wainwright © 2002)
Cebus capucinus (commonly referred to as white faced monkey, capuchin,
and mono carablanca) These monkeys range from Belize to northwestern
Colombia and northern Ecuador, from sea level to approximately 3,000
meters (10,000 feet). Part of their scientific name, capucinus, reflects the
similarly colored outfits of Capuchin monks (as well as cappuccino coffee).
These monkeys travel through all
levels of the forest canopy in groups
of up to 30 individuals. They are
omnivorous, meaning they eat
animal and plant matter, with fruit
and insects comprising most of their
diet. They also eat other plant parts,
such as new leaves and flowers,
especially when fruit is scarce.
Capuchins often tear apart
bromeliads (a group of plants that
commonly grow on trees) in search
of insects and water and they often
chew the base of leaves, as some
people eat artichokes. Scattered and chewed bromeliad leaves on the
forest floor may be a sign that these monkeys are about. Favorite insect
foods include beetle larvae, butterfly and moth caterpillars, and ant larvae.
Occasionally they eat small birds, eggs, young coatis, lizards, and frogs.
Home ranges vary between 30 and 160 hectares (75 and 400 acres).
Females give birth most often in the dry season (at Cloudbridge Dec.
through April). Mothers carry young until they are able to move about on
their own around five or six months of age. Sounds they make include
hoarse barks when alarmed, and squeals when playing or feeding. Like
spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroy, described above), white faced monkeys
are important seed dispersers and studies have shown that some seeds
germinate more readily if they have passed through the digestive tract.
Cecropia polyphlebia (Commonly called
cecropia tree or guarumo)
Candelabra-like branching and handshaped leaves make this tree easy to
recognize from a distance. Cercropias occur
in open or disturbed habitats, including
light gaps and along streams and roadways.
Monkeys eat new cecropia leaves and
many tree-dwelling mammals eat cecropia
fruits.
Bromeliad spp. (Commonly called bromeliad) Many species of bromeliads
occur in the Cloudbridge Nature
Reserve. In general, they resemble the
tops of pineapples perched on tree
trunks and branches. Spiny, strap-like
leaves collect water and organic debris,
and provide habitat for numerous kinds
of insects and frogs. White-faced
monkeys search inside bromeliads for
animal snacks and sometimes drink from them. They also pluck and chew
on the bases of leaves. Scattered and chewed bromeliad leaves on the
forest floor are a sign that white-faced monkeys are about.
Sloanea terniflora (Commonly called
monkey comb or peina de mono) Whitefaced monkeys rub their fur with these
hairy seed pods. How this benefits them is
not known. The behavior may remove
insect parasites from their fur or it might
simply feel
good.
Here are some pictures of other mammals that may be mistaken for
monkeys. We hope you see these, too!
Nasua narica (commonly known as whitenosed coati or pizote) Coatis are quite
common in the Cloudbridge Nature Reserve.
They are active during the daytime and often
climb trees to obtain fruit or to take a nap.
But they spend most of their time foraging on
the ground.
Eira barbara
(commonly known as tayra or tolomuco)
Although tayras do most of their foraging on
the ground, they are excellent tree climbers.
They are active during the day and most
often travel alone.
Sciurus granatensis
(commonly known as red-tailed squirrel, ardilla,
or chiza) Squirrels are active during the daytime.
They forage in trees and on the ground.
Potos flavus (commonly known as kinkajou or
martilla) Kinkajous are active at night. During the
day they rest in trees and dense vegetation,
usually high in the canopy.
Herpailurus yaguarondi (commonly known as
jaguaroundi or león breñero)
Jaguaroundis are often confused with tayras.
Unlike tayras, they have a long, thin tail and no light fur on the head or
chest. They are active during the day and
will climb trees occasionally to escape or
find food.
Use this map to describe (on the questionnaire) where you’ve seen
monkeys today (or other wildlife). Trail names, landmarks, and direction
would be very helpful to us. For example, “Along the main trail (Cuesta de
la Pizote), 10 meters west of the Vivero Viejo.”