Spider Monkey

By:  S. S.

Kingdom | Phylum | Class | Order | Family | Genius Species | Fun Facts | Works Cited

Kingdom - Animalia   Back to top

• multicellular organism
• heterotroph
• ingests food and digest it in internal cavity
• no cell wall
• have tissues, each do a specialized function

Phylum - Chordata   Back to top

• bilateral symmetry
• segmented body and muscles
• three germ layers and a well-developed coelom
• complete digestive system
• bony or cartilaginous endoskeleton usually present
• single, dorsal, hollow nerve cord, usually with an enlarged anterior end (brain)
• tail protecting beyond the anus at some stage of development
• pharyngeal pouches present at some stage of development
• ventral heart, with dorsal and ventral blood vessels and a closed blood system

Class - Mammalia   Back to top

• 3 middle ear bones
• hair
• feed young with milk
• highly differentiated teeth
• produce milk by mammary glands

Order - Primates   Back to top

• dwell in tropical rainforest
• have skull, teeth, and limbs
• walks upright
• live in tropics or subtropics
• arboreal (live in trees)

Family - Cebidae   Back to top

• long limbs
• digits with curved nails ( not claws)
• pollex not opposable and in some cases small or absent
• skulls appear globular
• high braincase
• short rostrum
• like rainforest
• good climbing ability

Genius and Species - Ateles geoffroyi   Back to top

• colors range from black, brown, silver to rust
• have flesh-colored rings around the eyes and their hands and feet are usually black
• large or tiny freckles or black dots
• facial area mostly naked and areas around eyes pigmented

    It is amazingly unusual that the spider monkey can throw objects with its long tail.  From the phylum Chordata, the spider monkey is a truly interesting vertebrate.  The spider monkey's many unique physical characteristics enable it to survive in a tropical habitat.

    The spider monkey has many unique characteristics that help it survive in its environment.  For example, spider monkeys have an extensively long tail.  This characteristic is used to move quickly throughout the trees.  This characteristic also gives them support while walking on two feet.  Another characteristic is that spider monkey only weighs about 13-25 lbs. Their light weight makes it easy for them to swing in the trees.  In addition, the undersides of their tails are naked and ridged.  This characteristic helps them grasp on to trees easily while collecting food.  Without many of its characteristics, the spider monkey would not be able to survive in its environment.

    The spider monkey lives in a habitat that has the many special elements that they need to survive.  For example, spider monkeys live in rainforests with lots of lush green vegetation.  The rainforests provide food for the spider monkey such as fruit, seeds, nuts, insects, and eggs.  Another example of their habitat is the many trees of the rainforest.  Trees make it possible for them to climb and swing quickly through the rainforest.  In addition, spider monkeys like semi deciduous forests.  Spider monkeys don't store their food because the leaves never fall where they live.  Spider monkeys live in a special habitat that includes all the elements they need to survive. 

    The spider monkey has many physical qualities that enable it to survive in its habitat.  Spider monkeys live in the trees of the rainforests.  We must try to recycle and conserve trees so spider monkeys will survive forever.

Fun Facts   Back to top

• They live for about 25 years

• Baby spider monkeys only need their mothers for about 10 weeks

• When they swing from tree to tree they make a barking sound

• They dislike they water

• They growl, bark and shake branches to warn competitors

• Usually a baby is born after a gestation period of about 4 ½ months

Strong long arms and limbs       Help them swing through green lush trees in the rainforest

Works Cited

Information and Pictures

"Spider Monkey," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2003
http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2003 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Antonia Gorge. Ateles geoffroyi. October 17, 2002. University of Michigan Museum of zoology. April 16, 2002 <http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/ateles/a._geoffroyi$narrative.html> 

Flannery , Sean. Primate Info Net. 12 Mar. 2002. WRPRC Library . 19 Mar. 2003 <http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/factsheets/ateles_geoffroyi.html>. 

Muzzy, Catherine. Personal interview. 16 Apr. 2003.

Background and Animations

BROWN-HEADED SPIDER MONKEY. 28 Aug. 1997. Henson Robinson Zoo. 16 Apr. 2003 <http://www.hensonrobinsonzoo.org/k001.html>.

Spider Monkey. Auckland Zoo. 16 Apr. 2003 <http://www.zoorainforest.co.nz/spidermonkey.html>.

Return To Index