Geoffroy's Spider Monkey

Description:

Something incredibly human about the way these spider monkeys are sitting, eating a carrot! Geoffroy's spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi), also known as black-handed spider monkey is a species of spider monkey, a type of New World monkey, from Central America, parts of Mexico and possibly a small portion of Colombia. It is one of the largest New World monkeys, often weighing as much as 9 kg (20 lb). Its arms are significantly longer than its legs, and its prehensile tail can support the entire weight of the monkey and is used as an extra limb. Its hands have only a vestigial thumb, but long, strong, hook-like fingers. These adaptations allow the monkey to move by swinging by its arms beneath the tree branches.

Habitat:

These monkeys were seen in the Atitlan Nature Reserve. In a turn of events, the monkeys were wild and free, and the visitors were caged in, well in a wire enclosure. The monkeys were fed daily which bought them up to our wire enclosure!