Spider monkey

Description

These primates have very long and thin limbs adapted for climbing. Their prehensile tails serve as an additional arm, which they use to move between branches and feed. They are covered with a long black coat that is slightly lighter in the head. They are shaped similarly to spiders, which gives them their name. They only have 4 toes on their back legs.

Behaviour

They are diurnal and move through tree branches in groups of up to 20 individuals. They divide into smaller groups to find food and to sleep, although they remain relatively close so as not to lose sight of the rest of the group. They can jump to a distance of up to 9 m from branch to branch, and they emit sounds to warn the group whenever there is danger. The females have one infant only, which will not separate from the mother for an average of 20 months. 

Interesting facts

Over the latest decades, their population has fallen by 80% as a consequence of habitat fragmentation due to the presence of humans. Furthermore, they are highly threatened by poaching as they are sold for illegal trafficking of exotic species.