# Geoffroy's spider monkey (*Ateles geoffroyi*) Geoffroy's spider monkeys are playful and agile monkeys found in the trees of Central America. They have long arms and tails that help them swing from branch to branch with ease! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Black-handed spider monkey, Geoffroy's monkey ![Geoffroy's spider monkey](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Panama_spider_monkey%252C_Costa_Rica.JPG&width=800) Photo: Steven G. Johnson, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Panama_spider_monkey%252C_Costa_Rica.JPG) ## Appearance The Geoffroy's spider monkey has a slender body with long, gangly limbs and an exceptionally long, grasping tail. Its fur color varies from light brown, reddish, or dark brown to black, often with a paler underside and a dark, hairless face. A small, vestigial thumb makes their hands appear hook-like. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Primates - **Family:** Atelidae - **Genus:** Ateles ## Interesting facts - Each Geoffroy's spider monkey has unique facial markings, like a fingerprint! - Spider monkeys are among the most intelligent New World monkeys! - Their tails are so strong, they can hang upside down for long periods! - These monkeys spend almost their entire lives high up in the forest treetops! ## Special abilities - **Tail Gripper:** Geoffroy's spider monkey has a strong, hairless-tipped prehensile tail that helps them securely grip branches and hang upside down. - **Forest Acrobat:** Geoffroy's spider monkey can swing incredibly fast and far using its long arms, allowing it to navigate the canopy with amazing agility. - **Seed Planter:** Geoffroy's spider monkey eats many fruits, dispersing their seeds through its droppings and helping new forest plants grow. - **Thumb-less Grip:** Geoffroy's spider monkey has only a tiny, vestigial thumb, giving its hands a hook-like grip perfect for brachiating. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 35-60 cm - **Weight:** 6-9 kg - **Lifespan:** 20-25 years - **Speed:** 25 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 226-232 days ## Diet & Feeding These monkeys mostly eat delicious ripe fruits, but also enjoy leaves and flowers for energy. - **Age differences:** Infants consume mother's milk, slowly adding fruits and leaves as they mature. - **Primary Foods:** ripe fruits, young leaves, flowers, nectar, termites - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Jaguar](https://www.snappit.app/explore/jaguar) (*Panthera onca*) — A powerful apex predator in their forest habitat. - **Eaten by:** [Harpy Eagle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/harpy-eagle) (*Harpia harpyja*) — A large raptor that preys on monkeys from above. - **Eaten by:** Puma (*Puma concolor*) — An agile cat hunting in trees and on the ground. - **Depends on:** Tropical Fig (*Ficus insipida*) — Monkeys eat its fruit and disperse seeds. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Tool Use](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/tool-use): This trait describes organisms that manipulate external objects to achieve a specific goal. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Always watch from a distance and never try to touch wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Geoffroy's spider monkey? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Geoffroy's spider monkey? 35-60 cm ### How much does Geoffroy's spider monkey weigh? 6-9 kg ### How long does Geoffroy's spider monkey live? 20-25 years ### How fast can Geoffroy's spider monkey move? 25 km/h ### What does Geoffroy's spider monkey eat? These monkeys mostly eat delicious ripe fruits, but also enjoy leaves and flowers for energy. ### Where is Geoffroy's spider monkey usually found? Forests ### How does Geoffroy's spider monkey hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Staten Island Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/staten-island-zoo) — New York, US · Zoo - [Charles Paddock Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/charles-paddock-zoo) — California, US · Zoo ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Geoffroy's spider monkey: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/geoffroys-spider-monkey)