Home
Zoo History
Friends of the Zoo
Ask the Zookeeper
Education Programs
Visit the Zoo
KidZone
Jobs and Internships
Volunteer at the Zoo
Adopt An Animal Info
Eagle Days 2013  - Eagle Days this W...
[More News]
 


Please input your name and e-mail to subscribe or unscubscribe our newsletter:
First name
Last name
e-mail
Subscribe unsubscribe   
Home » Exhibits » Mammals » Black Handed Spider Monkey
BLACK-HANDED SPIDER MONKEY

Spider Monkey

Scientifice Name:  Ateles geoffroyi

Range and Habitat:  Tropical forests and swamps of southern Mexico and Central America

Size:  Up to 26 pounds

Wild Diet: Fruit, seeds, flowers, leaves

Zoo Diet:  Primate biscuits, fruits and vegetables

Habits: Spider monkeys use their hook-like hands to swing from tree to tree or to hang beneath the branches while eating. Spider monkeys have a prehensile tail (a "fifth limb"), which it uses for grasping when feeding and when moving through the forest. The tip of the tail is bare skin. Their tails can support their entire weight.

When separated, group members will communicate with a sound similar to a whinny. When threatened, males and females scare intruders away with rough barking and wild behavioral displays. They have a variety of other vocalizations.

Spider monkeys are mostly active during the day, and use high forest canopy trees at night as sleeping trees. Groups consist of 2-18 individuals, which are units of larger bands of 15-25 individuals.