Central American Spider Monkey

The Central American spider monkey, or Geoffroy's spider monkey, is also known as the black-handed spider monkey. The species belongs to the family Atelidae. It is one of the largest New World monkeys. The male measures between 38 and 50 cm, the female between 34 and 52 cm, both sexes weigh 4 to 6 kg and they live for 27 to 30 years. Its slender, globular trunk has arms longer than its hind limbs, and its long prehensile tail bears its entire weight, acting as an additional limb. Its thumb is vestigial; in exchange its other fingers are long, strong and hook-shaped, an adaptation that lets it swing between branches. Its head is small and the muzzle proportionate. The upper coat may be black, brown or reddish, and its face is often marked with a pale mask of unpigmented skin around the eyes and muzzle. Arms and feet are dark and the underparts paler. It gathers in groups of between 6 and 40 members, breaking up into smaller parties at night in search of food. It feeds mainly on fruit pulp. It requires large areas to survive. It lives in southern and eastern Mexico and in Central America as far as Panama, probably reaching the northern edge of the Colombian Pacific. The species is emblematic of the tropical forest and plays an outstanding ecological role in seed dispersal, taking part in the regeneration and maintenance of the vegetation. Mexico's NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010 lists it as in danger of extinction, and the IUCN as an endangered species. This monkey is a food source for mestizo and indigenous groups in Central America. It is also kept as a pet. For these reasons, along with deforestation, hunting and disease, its populations have declined. It is also traded because local people believe it has medicinal properties. The greatest risk to the species is habitat loss.