#spider monkeys

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Uncharismatic Fact of the Day

Opposable thumbs have been a handy evolutionary tool for primates, but some monkeys can get by just fine without them! Spider monkeys only have four fingers, which makes it easier for them to swing from branch to branch.

(Image: A group of female Geoffrey's spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) by Terry Whittaker)

If you like what I do, consider leaving a tip or buying me a kofi!

[animal-of-the-day]

have you done spider monkeys?

Animal of the day: Spider monkeys !

Spider monkeys are New World monkeys in the genus Ateles, and they are notably larger than most other monkeys in the region. They use their long thin arms, legs and prehensile tails to swing from tree to tree with a spider-like appearance, which is how they got their name !

These monkeys are native to central and south America, and they live in tropical rainforests. They mostly eat fruit, nuts and seeds, and thereby act as important seed dispersers for many plants. They also eat insects and arachnids, which means they have an omnivorous diet. Due to habitat loss and human activities such as hunting, all seven species of spider monkey are declining, and the brown spider monkey in particular is critically endangered :(

Spider monkeys, like humans, are social creatures that live in communities of around 20-40 individuals. They are known to engage in polygamous sexual behaviours and have sexual segregation with differential roles in foraging for food and parental care. They are very intelligent animals with the ability to communicate using a wide range of vocal sounds, such as barking and screaming !

Interestingly, female spider monkeys have well-developed genitals that are difficult to distinguish from those of males due to the shape, size, and urinary function. This is really cool and it shows how even among primates sexual dimorphism is not as black and white as humans often think it is !

[bignosebaby]

why are spider monkeys called that? I once heard it's because they use their mouths and tails like two more limbs-- is that true?

They are called spider monkeys because they have long limbs and hang from their tails with their arms and legs dangling down, much like a spider dangling from a thread. Like this:

Photo source + more spider monkey info here 🐒

[petsincollections]

"Spider monkeys"

"Spider monkeys demonstrate toys during Children's Expo '73, a fair and show for youngsters, in the Sheraton Hotel."

George D. McDowell Philadelphia Evening Bulletin Photographs

Temple Digital Collections

[is-the-primate-vid-cute]

what kind of familial behaviors do spider monkeys have?

Spider monkeys live in large multi-family groups of tyoically around 30 members , but groups of up to 100 have been seen. They split off into smaller factions to forage, and the entire group might only be together for a few weeks a year. Males compete for breeding opportunities during peak fertility times, which varies by individual rather than being seasonal. Babies are dependant on their mothers for the first year and may nurse for up to two years, and an individual spider monkey will only have a baby every few years.

Spider monkeys are more matriarchal, so females are the ones that leave their natal group when they reach maturity, and are responsible for most leadership decisions.

[writerofweird]

Spider Monkeys

I observe themLarge disembodied handsDiscordantly dancingFrom one place to another Their movementLike a cartoon adaptationOf what climbed the waterspout A dream half-realised Should they have more legsOr should their namesakes be larger?

[whatnext10]

Monkeying Around on Monkey Island is Great of Fun Part II

Found a Peanut…and Zuchini Well, it looks like there were indeed some tasty snacks in the food bucket. As you can see, he chose a handful of peanuts and a nice slice of zuchini. Not bad for an afternoon snack. He then took his prizes up a tree to one of the several perching platforms they have available on the island. All the platforms face out towards the water, allowing the monkeys to get a…

[owlpower669]

this is the plot of lmk. right.

[dinoserious]

chit chat

[starheart-blog]

What type of monkey do you think you would be? 🤔🧐

Hm...🤔

Oh! 😮

Spider Monkey. 😄

I feel like I would be a Spider monkey. 😁

If you guys don't know what or how a spider Monkey Looks like, then here are some pictures:

[faygos]

errybody loves dirk

[tinderbox210]

Noa and Mae + the climb scene (theatrical and raw cut)

[winterpower98]

These were originally meant for Valentine's day, but oh well

[is-the-primate-vid-cute]

Hey! I’ve been following this blog for awhile and had a great time seeing all the fun primate facts while learning about how normalized the abuse of monkeys and apes have been.

But!! Thankfully this isn’t a question about animal cruelty- I just wanted to know if any of the mods have a (or some) fun fact about spider monkeys in particular! Every site I use to try and find interesting information about them is about their tails, (which are insane don’t get me wrong-) but there’s got to be more to them than that! Anyways, thank you for your time and I hope the day goes great :)

My favourite fact about spider monkeys is that they are very intelligent and one of their defense mechanisms is that they will drop things on people walking below from their spot in the trees! Their brains are around twice the size of other monkeys of similar size such as howlers, and their groups are largely female lead.

While they can be agressive towards humans with the aformentioned dropping things on you technique as well as loud barks to frighten people off, they can also be very chill. Spider monkeys aclimated to human presence aren't afraid to spend time near you if you're walking through the rainforest, making them great photography targets even though a spider monkey once tried to eat my camera case.

[kayjayo1227]

…the longer you think about this concept the funnier it will be, I swear.