Spider monkey
Ateles fusciceps rufiventris
IUCN Red List StatusVulnerable
Ateles fusciceps rufiventris
It’s easy to see how these monkeys get their name; from a distance, they resemble large black spiders weaving their way through the forest.
They grab onto tree branches with their long, gangly limbs and also hang and swing using their tails. A benefit of their exceptional climbing skills is that they don’t have many natural predators – hanging high up in the trees makes them difficult to catch!
They live in groups of up to 20–30 individuals, although they travel, feed, and rest in smaller groups of varying sizes.
Spider monkeys communicate through loud, whooping calls to warn each other of danger.
