Colombian spider monkey

Colombian spider monkey[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Suborder: Haplorhini
Infraorder: Simiiformes
Family: Atelidae
Genus: Ateles
Species:
A. fusciceps
Subspecies:
A. f. rufiventris
Trinomial name
Ateles fusciceps rufiventris
(Sclater, 1872)
Synonyms
  • dariensis Goldman, 1915
  • robustus J. A. Allen, 1914

The Colombian spider monkey (Ateles fusciceps rufiventris) is a subspecies of the Black-headed spider monkey, a type of New World monkey,[1] found in Colombia and Panama.[2][3] Some authorities, such as Froelich (1991), Collins and Dubach (2001) and Nieves (2005), do not recognize the Black-headed spider monkey as a distinct species and so treat the Colombian spider monkey as a subspecies of Geoffroy's spider monkey.[4]

The Colombian spider monkey lives in dry forests, humid forests and cloud forests, and can live up to 2,000 to 2,500 metres (6,600 to 8,200 ft) above sea level.[2] It is entirely black with some white on its chin while the Brown-headed spider monkey (A. f. fusciceps) has a black or brown body and a brown head.[2]

The spider monkey has a black body and long limbs with thumb-less hands. It has a prehensile and extremely flexible tail, which acts as an extra limb. The tail has a hairless patch on the tip that is used for grip. This hairless patch is unique in its markings, just like the human fingerprint. Colombian spider monkeys can weigh up to 9.1 kg (20 pounds). Fruit makes up eighty percent of the spider monkey's diet, which also includes leaves, nuts, seeds, bark, insects, and flowers. Spider monkeys contribute to the dispersion of undigested seeds from the fruits they eat.[citation needed] This monkey lives approximately 24 years.

Spider monkeys are found in social groups of up to 30 individuals; however, they are usually broken up into smaller foraging groups of 3-4 individuals. They move and climb through the forest by hand over hand (brachiation) motion.

Columbian spider monkey at Chester Zoo
  1. ^ a b Groves, C. P. (2005). Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. OCLC 62265494.
  2. ^ a b c d Link, A.; Cortes-Ortíz, L.; Defler, T.R.; Guzmàn-Caro, D.; Méndez-Carvajal, P.; Rodríguez, V.; Shanee, S. (2020). "Ateles fusciceps ssp. rufiventris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T39921A17979836. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  3. ^ Rylands, A.; Groves, C.; Mittermeier, R.; Cortes-Ortiz, L. & Hines, J. (2006). "Taxonomy and Distributions of Mesoamerican Primates". New Perspectives in the Study of Mesoamerican Primates. pp. 56–66. ISBN 0-387-25854-X.
  4. ^ Collins, A. (2008). "The taxonomic status of spider monkeys in the twenty-first century". In Campbell, C. (ed.). Spider Monkeys. Cambridge University Press. pp. 50–67. ISBN 978-0-521-86750-4.