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Spider Monkey | Know About Monkey That Walks Like A Spider
Spider monkeys live in moist evergreen forests. Apart from this, spider monkeys live in places where the availability of food is high. Spider monkeys are mostly seen in the forests of South and Central America and Geoffroy's spider monkey is found in Mexico.
Spider monkeys are a primate population and these monkeys have a unique tail. A spider monkey troop consists of about 30 monkeys and sometimes it can be up to 100 monkeys. The spider monkey population has been declared endangered by various wildlife conservation organizations due to several factors.
The spider monkey species has the ability to use its tail as a fifth limb which is an evolutionary development that helps it to move easily and quickly in trees and dense vegetation.
The tails of these monkeys are so strong and efficient in gripping that it is able to lift the full weight of the monkey while hanging from a branch. Spider monkeys are diurnal which means that these monkeys search for fruits and food during the day.
Spider monkeys are mostly seen hopping and active in the early morning. These monkeys are named spider monkeys due to their spindly form and they move like a spider with the help of their long limbs. Spider monkeys are endangered due to heavy habitat loss and deforestation.
Apart from this, spider monkeys were also used extensively in the pet trade and hunting. The spider monkey population was a large part of the hunting as these monkeys were easily caught due to their loud voice and huge size.
Where Are Spider Monkeys Found
Spider monkeys are a type of monkey which is a member of the Atelidae family. There are seven different species of spider monkeys and hence spider monkeys appear in different colors like black, brown and red.
There are seven different species of spider monkey which are known as white-bellied spider monkey, black-faced spider monkey, brown spider monkey, white-cheeked spider monkey, black-headed spider monkey, Jeffrey's spider monkey and red-faced spider monkey.
Spider monkeys prefer to live in forests, mangroves, evergreen forests, deciduous forests, lowland rainforests and mountain forests. Apart from this, these monkeys live in canopy forests in South America and range from the southern parts of Mexico to Brazil.
Scientific Name Of Spider Monkey
The scientific name of spider monkey is Ateles and spider monkey is a type of monkey. Spider monkey is known as a member of Atelidae family. Spider monkey is a mammalian class and it looks adorable and cute when it plays or climbs around the trees. Spider monkey is intelligent.
Habitat Of Spider Monkey
Spider monkeys prefer to live in evergreen forests. Spider monkey species are spread across lowland and mountain forests and all seven species of these monkeys prefer rainforests but there are slight variations in their habitat. Some species of these monkeys are found in lowland forests while some species are seen in moist forests that live at higher altitudes or in the mountains.
Mountain forests are located at higher altitudes so these monkey species are less prone to threats and some monkeys live with humans or even in suburbs. Where do spider monkeys live? They are found in moist habitats with availability of trees and ripe fruits in large quantities.
Being social and friendly animals, these monkeys live in groups of 15-30 monkeys but female monkeys live in female-only communities called matriarchal groups as they are more active and stay away from groups of male monkeys. Read- Immortal Jellyfish | Facts About Jellyfish That Never Die
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What Do Spider Monkeys Look Like
This species of monkeys has curved physical features such as a prehensile tail, four legs and very long limbs, which help these monkeys to climb from one tree to another easily and make long jumps.
The prehensile tail of the spider monkey acts as a fifth leg and can be about 32 inches long. Apart from this, the black-headed monkey is the largest in size among these monkeys.
Spider Monkey Size
Spider monkeys are one of the largest species of monkeys and are about 40-56 inches in size with a 24-32 inch tail. These monkeys are half the size of the mandrill monkey and spider monkeys weigh about 6.4-12 kg.
What Do Spider Monkeys Eat
These monkeys are omnivorous animals and like to eat insects, eggs and leaves in their diet. Apart from this, the diet of spider monkey mostly consists of ripe fruits.
How Do Spider Monkeys Reproduce
The gestation period of the female monkeys is 7 to 8 months. Females give birth to babies every 2 to 3 years and the female monkeys look for a partner of the same breed from their group. These monkeys check the readiness of their partner for mating by smelling.
The babies stay with their mother from the time of their birth till the age of 6 months. They have been observed to have long arms and legs and a long tail so when they are 5 months old they ride on their mother's back.
The female monkeys feed the babies milk until they are 2 years old. After 10 weeks of birth, the babies start playing and exploring by joining various small groups of other spider monkeys. The male has no contribution or part in the upbringing of the spider monkey babies.
How Long Do Spider Monkeys Live
Spider monkeys have a long life span. These monkeys live about 20-27 years in the wild and up to 40 years in the domesticated state.
How Fast Can Spider Monkeys Run
Spider monkeys are agile and fast animals. Spider monkeys are known to reach a speed of about 56.3 kilometers per hour. These monkeys are smart and use these qualities to their advantage.
How Do Spider Monkeys Communicate
Spider monkeys communicate through different types of growls and calls. Spider monkeys use tactile, acoustic and physical channels to communicate. For example spider monkeys use tactile communication before mating.
Because spider monkeys touch and check the readiness of their mates for mating. Apart from this spider monkeys use acoustic communication such as grunts, whistles and barks to communicate.
Groups of spider monkeys communicate very loudly. Spider monkeys use physical activities such as playing and jumping prior to courtship to impress females. Read- Resplendent Quetzal Interesting Facts with Pictures
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How Many Spider Monkeys Are There In The World
7 species of spider monkeys are the most endangered and there is no exact number of how many spider monkeys are alive. But it is estimated that there are less than 3,000 spider monkeys alive in the world because of the recent massive loss of habitat and forests.
Of the spider monkey species, 5 are listed as endangered. One is listed as vulnerable and another is listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List.
Spider Monkey Behavior
These monkeys are aggressive, territorial and dominant. Male monkeys are seen to be more aggressive than female monkeys. These monkeys will not really make a good pet. These monkeys are very destructive and they also need different types of fruits and trees.
Spider Monkey Facts For Kids
1. Why is it called spider monkey?
The name spider monkey is derived from the spider-like looking tail and body parts of these monkeys. These are agile monkeys that are known for their intelligence and incredible acrobatic skills in their habitats.
2. What are the threats to spider monkeys?
Destruction of rainforests and threats from hunting are the biggest challenges to the survival of these monkeys. Because spider monkeys prefer tropical forests and rarely venture into disturbed habitats, spider monkeys are particularly vulnerable to the effects of forest fragmentation.
3. What are 5 interesting facts about spider monkeys?
These monkeys have strong tails and spider monkeys do not have thumbs. Female monkeys lead. Spider monkeys are experts in swinging. Spider monkeys are endangered and are social animals.
4. Are spider monkeys aggressive?
These monkeys are aggressive, territorial and dominant. Male monkeys are seen to be more aggressive than female monkeys.
5. Why do spider monkeys hug?
Like humans and chimpanzees, spider monkeys live in small groups that separate to feed or hunt and then rejoin later in the day.
6. How high can spider monkeys jump?
Spider monkeys move around the forest using both their arms and legs to swing between trees. Spider monkeys move along branches in an upright position and the brown-headed spider monkey can jump over 9 meters.
7. How fast does a spider monkey run?
Spider monkeys are agile and fast animals. Spider monkeys are known to have a speed of about 56.3 kilometers per hour.
8. Are spider monkeys afraid of water?
Like most primates, spider monkeys are afraid of water so spider monkeys will drink water but will not submerge themselves in water.
9. What is a spider monkey for kids?
Spider monkeys are extremely agile monkeys and are able to move quickly on trees. Spider monkeys have a slender belly and are adept at using their long tail as a fifth limb.
10. Where do spider monkeys sleep?
Spider monkeys are active during the day and sleep under a canopy at night where they are safe from predators. They also sleep near their food source so it is readily available when they need it.