Download Black-Handed Spider Monkey

Animal Fact Sheet
BLACK-HANDED SPIDER MONKEY
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primata
Family: Cebidae
Genus: Ateles
Species: geoffroyi geoffroy
Group: Troop
Credit: Ashley Clayton
Description:
Black-handed spider monkeys are primates with long arms and legs and slender
bodies. The coarse fur covering the body is tawny or golden, but the limbs are
black. They have a black face with white rings around their eyes. Spider
monkeys are the most acrobatic and agile of all monkeys
Size:
The head and body length reaches 22 inches, and the tail reaches 36 inches
long. They weigh between 10 and 20 pounds.
Life Span:
They live between 15 and 35 years.
Diet:
In the wild: fruit, nuts, seeds, flowers, leaves, insects and eggs.
At the Zoo: oranges, canned primate diet and primate biscuits.
Geographic
Range:
Spider monkeys are found in Mexico and from Central America to Paraguay.
Habitat:
They are arboreal and inhabit rainforests.
Reproduction:
Males reach full sexual maturity at about 5 years of age (4 years for females).
After a gestation period of about 4 ½ months, females give birth to 1 young.
The young cling to their mother’s abdomen for approximately 4 months.
Infants then cling to their mother’s back for several more months, gradually
venturing away on their own.
Special
Adaptations:
Spider monkeys have a prehensile tail that allows them to grasp things. Their
tail provides extra balance while climbing or they will use it to hang off of tree
branches. This adaptation is essential for treetop dwelling. The underside of
their tail is hairless with ridged skin that provides a gripping finger-like surface.
Their fingers are very long for climbing and swinging on tree branches.
Behavior:
Spider monkeys live in groups, called troops, of 10 to 30 individuals. The males
are dominant. Spider monkeys communicate with various vocalizations
including territorial “barks.” They are easily excitable and will shake branches
and throw fruit at intruders.
Current Status:
Although the black-handed spider monkey is not listed as endangered, they are
threatened by habitat destruction and hunting. Other species of spider monkey
are listed as endangered.
Related
Species:
Where am I in
the Zoo:
Black spider monkey, long-haired spider monkey and brown-headed spider
monkey.
Spider monkeys are located on “monkey island” in the center of the Zoo
grounds.