Black spider monkey

Natural born acrobat of South America

Common Name		Spider monkey; Coaita noir(Fr); Coata Negro(Sp)
Scientific Name		Ateles paniscus
Habitat		Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Location		Northern South America
Status		IUCN Least Concern CITES Appendix II

Background

This information has been reviewed by Dr Meg Symington, Director, Latin America and Caribbean, WWF-US.

Spider monkeys are encountered in healthy tropical rainforests in Central and South America. They are vulnerable to hunting and habitat loss due to human activity. The black spider monkey, Ateles paniscus, is one of three species of spider monkey.

Physical Description

Black spider monkeys are one of the largest primates in south America. They exhibit anatomical and locomotory adaptions not unlike those of apes.

Their prehensile tail allows them to find stability when sitting on branches, to reach out for food at the tip of fragile branches by suspending themselves, and also as a fifth member for moving in perilous places.

Size
Their weight ranges from 7 to 9 kg. Body ranges from 40 to 60 cms, and the tail is 60-80 cms.

Colour
Black all over, although the face can be a different colour.

Habitat

Major habitat type
Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests

Biogeographic realm
Neotropical

Range States
Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Brazil

Geographical Location
Northern South America

Ecological Region
Guianan Moist Forests

Why is this species important?

The black spider monkey has an important role in seed dispersal in tropical forests.