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Spider Monkey

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Spider Monkey
Spider Monkey
Spider Monkey
Spider Monkey


The spider monkey is thought to get it's name from the way the spider monkeys can be seen hanging in the trees. The spider monkey can often be seen with all four hands on separate branches, so the spider monkey looks like a spider's web. The spider monkey can also hang from branches by it's strong tail, which gives the spider monkey spider-like attributes.

The spider monkey mainly eats fruits and berries and spider monkeys are a thought to play a vital part in spreading the seeds of many plants throughout the South American rainforests. The spider monkey also eats insects and small reptiles for protein and also honey which the spider monkey finds it.

Due to the extensive hunting of the spider monkey from both humans and bigger jungle animals such as the jaguar and the crocodile, all four species of spider monkey are now considered to be endangered or critically endangered.

The spider monkey is often kept as an exotic pet worldwide and is one of the most popular species of pet monkey due to the spider monkey's looks and the spider monkey's character. Please don't keep spider monkeys as pets. Spider monkeys belong in the jungles were they come from and are on the verge of extinction, this process should not be helped.

Spider monkeys form groups of between 10 and 30 individuals which splits up during the day so that there is less competition for food. Unlike many other primates, it is the female spider monkeys that leave their original group to join new groups, rather than the male spider monkeys. Male spider monkeys are known to stay together throughout their lives.

Female spider monkeys breed every three to four years and when she is ready to, the female spider monkey chooses a male spider monkey from her group in which to mate with. After a gestation period of around 7 months, the female spider monkey will give birth to one baby spider monkey.

Baby spider monkeys completely rely on their mother until they are between 6 to 10 months old and are big enough and strong enough to make it on their own. Until then, the mother spider monkey carries her young on her tummy and then on her back in on order to keep them safe. Female spider monkeys are known to help their young when jumping in the trees and groom them too.

Spider Monkey Comments (37)




"I really liked what you said about spider monkeys. I love monkeys and these are my favorite kind! I did not know that they were endangered so I am glade to learn new facts."



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Spider Monkey Facts

Five groups that classify all living things...
A group of animals within the animal kingdom...
A group of animals within a pylum...
A group of animals within a class...
A group of animals within an order...
A group of animals within a family...
Scientific Name:
Comprised of the genus followed by the species...
Simia Paniscus
The animal group that the species belongs to...
What kind of foods the animal eats...
40-50cm (15.7-20in)
The measurement of how heavy the animal is...
6.4-12kg (14-26lbs)
Top Speed:
The fastest recorded speed of the animal...
56km/h (35mph)
Life Span:
How long the animal lives for...
15-27 years
Whether the animal is solitary or sociable...
Conservation Status:
The likelihood of the animal becoming extinct...
Least Concern
The colour of the animal's coat or markings...
Black, Grey, Brown, White
Skin Type:
The protective layer of the animal...
Favourite Food:Fruit
The specific area where the animal lives...
Tropical jungle and rainforest
Average Litter Size:
The average number of babies born at once...
Main Prey:
The food that the animal gains energy from...
Fruit, Nuts, Leaves
Other animals that hunt and eat the animal...
Human, Eagles, Jaguar
Special Features:Strong, long tail and agile hands and feet

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