Jahromi 1

Nicole Jahromi
Ms. Wing
Pre- AP English Period 6

20 February 2018

Black Spider Monkey

As the sunlight glimmers through the leaves of the treetops in the Amazonian
rainforest, the black spider monkey joins its troop in the search for food once more. His
long limbs help him as he jumps from branch to branch, in the pursuit of a meal. Soon, the
sun begins to set, creating a blend of various shades of oranges and pinks in the sky. The
black spider monkey suddenly spots an appetizing caterpillar emerging from behind the
leaf he was hidden behind for so long. The only sound present is the sound of the leaves
rustling as they hit each other while the branch sways from left to right due to the monkey’s
weight.
He now decides to go for the attack.
Carefully planning out how to make the
approach, he thoughtfully strategizes
different techniques and methods, being
sure to remain as quiet as possible to not
attract any unwanted attention. Meanwhile,
the rest of the troop is now gathered around
the way vultures would gather around a
carcass, looking at the heap of newly found
insects with such desire. The monkey
suddenly leaps into the next tree with such
elegance and grace, capturing the
appetizing caterpillar with success.
The black spider monkey, or Ateles
fusciceps, is one of the many endangered species from around the world. These arboreal
species are the most adept and acrobatic species of monkeys. They are native to both
Central and South America, more specifically, in the tropical rainforests there. These
primates primarily live in the upper canopy level of rainforests to eliminate competition
with other primates, allowing them to easily find and hunt for food. Hunting and finding
food is also easier due to their extremely long limbs and tail that has adapted to hold onto
and grasp things. They are about three and a half feet tall and weigh around ten to fifteen
pounds depending on the individual. Also, these monkeys do not have thumbs, meaning
they only have four fingers.
Black spider monkeys get their name because they are black and because they hang
from the trees by holding different branches with their limbs and long tails, shaped" like
spiders (SoftSchools.com). Spider monkeys are omnivores, meaning they eat both animals
and plants, however, 90 percent of their diet is plant-based. Their diet mostly consists of
fruits, seeds, nuts, and flowers, although they also eat bird’s eggs and insects. These
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monkeys are also very social primates causing them to live in groups called troops and
when two different troops meet each other, they greet each other with hugs, and avoid
conflicts (NationalGeographic.org). While scavenging for food, troops split up into smaller
groups to make the hunt faster and more efficient.
Black spider monkeys are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day and sleep
at night. At night, several troops of monkeys come together and sleep in the treetops of the
upper canopy level of the forest to ensure safety from predators such as jaguars, pumas,
ocelots and large snakes (SoftSchool.com).
The ovarian cycle in female spider monkeys is similar to that of human beings’. Their
cycle lasts for approximately twenty-seven days, with an ovulation period that lasts for
around eight to ten days. Generally, is is the female who approaches the male and leads him
on. Gestation period in this species of spider monkey lasts approximately seven and a half
months. Siblings are usually a minimum of four years apart due to lack of ovulation in the
mother primate after birth. After giving birth to their offspring, females do not ovulate for
another three and a half years. Additionally, parent monkeys generally only take care of one
child at a time because, at the age of four, offspring become independent and no longer
need support from their families.
These monkeys do not migrate. Since
they live in Central and South America, which
happens to be near the equator, the
temperature stays relatively the same during
all four seasons, allowing them to comfortably
remain in their habitats year round. The
temperature varies from 64 degrees
Fahrenheit to 82 degrees Fahrenheit with
minimal sunlight due to the trees blocking it
out and heavy rains all year round. The
human population in South America is nearly
425,000,000 and in Central America, it is
close to 177,000,000, however, the black
spider monkey species live in more remote parts, like jungles and rainforests such as the
Amazon where the people are just as indigenous and peaceful as the monkeys. In addition
to living in remote areas, the humans that do live near black spider monkeys’ habitats
generally do not disturb them, as they live in treetops and most humans fear many of the
Amazonian predators such as jaguars, pumas, and thousands of undiscovered species of
venomous snakes, spiders, and bugs. Spider monkeys live in a damp, rainy environment,
filled with big leafy green trees that are hundreds of feet in height, blocking out nearly all of
the sun.
Due to this love of tropical environments, black spider monkeys face a huge life
changing issue with forest fragmentation. By destroying the only home they have ever
known, people are putting these monkeys at a huge risk, many, in fact, die, placing their
species as one of the most endangered species in the Amazon (WorldWildLife.org).
Although this is tragic, there are several ways to help. The World Wildlife Fund and
Paso PAcifico are just one of the many organizations that are trying to help fight for the
monkeys’ rights and lives, and The Rainforest Foundation is a foundation devoted to saving
all rainforests and every single species in them.
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Black spider monkeys are crucial to the Amazonian forests. Helping these monkeys
is simple, a small donation goes a long way in their lives. Simply reducing deforestation
rates can help black spider monkeys, as well as thousands of other species, immensely.

Works Cited
“Ateles Paniscus .” Ateles Paniscus (Black Spider Monkey, Guiana Spider Monkey, Red-Faced

Black Spider Monkey, Red-Faced Spider Monkey),

www.iucnredlist.org/details/2283/0. Accessed 20 February 2018.

“Black Spider MonkeyAteles Paniscus.” Primate Info Net Banner,

pin.primate.wisc.edu/factsheets/entry/black_spider_monkey.
“Black Spider Monkey Videos, Photos and Facts.” Arkive 5 Feb. 2018

www.arkive.org/black-spider-monkey/ateles-paniscus/.

“Black Spider Monkey.” WWF, World Wildlife Fund,

www.worldwildlife.org/species/black-spider-monkey.

“Spider Monkeys.” National Geographic, 10 Sept. 2010,

www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/group/spider-

monkeys/#close.