Spider monkeys, like this young one in Bolivia's Madidi National Park,
are dependent on their mothers for about ten weeks after birth.
Spider monkeys (of several species) live in the tropical rain forests
of Central and South America and occur as far north as Mexico. They
have long, lanky arms and prehensile (gripping) tails that enable them
to move gracefully from branch to branch and tree to tree. These nimble
monkeys spend most of their time aloft, and maintain a powerful grip on
branches even though they have no thumbs.
These New World primates
are social and gather in groups of up to two- or three-dozen animals.
At night, these groups split up into smaller sleeping parties of a half
dozen or fewer. Foraging also occurs in smaller groups, and is usually
most intense early in the day. Spider monkeys find food in the treetops
and feast on nuts, fruits, leaves, bird eggs, and spiders. They can be
noisy animals and often communicate with many calls, screeches, barks,
and other sounds.
