Mammals
Brown Spider Monkey
Ateles hybridus · also called variegated spider monkey
Swinging through the canopy of a Colombian forest fragment on long arms and a gripping tail, a brown spider monkey reaches for a ripe fig, one of a species that has lost almost its entire habitat.
Overview
The brown spider monkey, Ateles hybridus, is a Critically Endangered monkey of northern Colombia and western Venezuela. Its long limbs, gripping tail, and role as a seed disperser make it an important forest animal, while the loss of most of its habitat makes it one of the most threatened primates in the Americas.
A monkey with little forest left
Because the brown spider monkey depends on large areas of fruiting forest, clearing for farms and ranches has pushed it close to the edge.
Status
Critically Endangered, with a decreasing population.
Brown Spider Monkey: common questions
Why is it called a spider monkey?
Its long, slender limbs and prehensile tail give it a spidery look as it swings through the canopy.
Why is the brown spider monkey critically endangered?
It has lost most of its original forest to farming and ranching and is also hunted.
How does the brown spider monkey help forests?
It eats a great deal of fruit and drops the seeds as it travels, helping forests to regrow.
Where is the brown spider monkey found?
It lives in forest in northern Colombia and western Venezuela.