Spider monkey

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Spider monkeys are New World monkeys belonging to the genus Ateles, part of the subfamily Atelinae, family Atelidae. Like other atelines, they are found in tropical forests of Central and South America, from southern Mexico to Brazil. The genus consists of seven species, all of which are under threat; the brown spider monkey is critically endangered. They are also notable for their ability to be easily bred in captivity. According to the Saint Louis Zoo, spider monkeys, which have arms longer than their legs, but lack thumbs, are so-called because they hang from branches by their prehensile tail, with their long limbs suspended in the air, for which they resemble spiders dangling from a web. They are one of the largest New World monkeys. Spider monkeys live in the upper layers of the rainforest and forage in the high canopy, from 25 to 30 m (82 to 98 ft). Due to their large size, spider monkeys require large tracts of moist evergreen forests, and prefer undisturbed primary rainforest. They...

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