Ateles geoffroyi_geoffroyi

Black-handed spider monkeys range throughout Central America from Mexico to west Panama.  They inhabit rainforest, semi-deciduous forest, and mangrove forests.  Spider monkeys are the New World equivalent of the gibbons.  They possess long slender arms and legs plus a prehensile tail with a hairless area on the underside that provides them with extreme agility as they swing from branch to branch or feed in the tree canopy.  By nature they are diurnal and arboreal and they rarely descend to the ground.  They are also capable of moving bipedally across branches. Their fingers are elongated, and the thumbs are reduced or vestigial.  The fur is golden brown and they have black hands and feet.  Their head and body length is about 2 feet, tail can be up to 3 feet in length, and weight is 13-17 pounds.  Average lifespan is 27 years.  Gestation period is 210-225 days with the birth of a single infant who will need his mother for 2 years.

Spider monkeys congregate in groups of 4-35 individuals.  They tend to be species specific in that they will not interact with other species of spider monkeys in the natural state.  Troops patrol their territorial boundaries daily, but there rarely appears to be disputes as troops do not usually go into another's territory.  Spider monkeys mainly eat fruits, but they also eat leaves, seeds, flowers, nectar, insects, and small animals including birds and their eggs.  Their zoo diet is 4 monkey chow biscuits each, 2 cups chopped fruits and lettuce with vionate. 

Although many species of spider monkey are endangered due to habitat destruction, and hunted for food, this particular species is not threatened yet.

Our spider monkeys came to us in July 2003.  The group is made up of three sisters and a half brother.  Females’ birthdates: Katie 12-11-88, Babs 4-27-92, Kiley 2-12-95, and male Bugaboo 3-15-98.