Red-faced spider monkey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Red-faced spider monkeyTemporal range: Pleistocene to recent
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| Red-faced spider monkey in La Vallée des Singes, France | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Ateles
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| Species: |
paniscus
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| Red-faced spider monkey range | |
| Synonyms | |
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Simia paniscus Linnaeus, 1758 |
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The red-faced spider monkey (Ateles paniscus) is also known as the Guiana spider monkey. It is a type of spider monkey that lives in the rain forests of northern South America.
Sadly, this monkey faces problems like hunting and losing its home due to habitat loss. Because of this, it is listed as a Vulnerable animal on the IUCN Redlist. This means it could become endangered if we don't protect it.
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What Does It Look Like?
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The red-faced spider monkey has long, black fur. Its face is red or pink and mostly bare, with only a few short, white hairs. When these monkeys are born, their faces are dark. They get lighter as they grow older.
It's hard to tell males and females apart just by looking at them. Males are usually about 55.7 centimetres (21.9 in) long from head to body. Females are a little shorter, around 55.2 cm (21.7 in). Males weigh about 9.1 kg (20 lb), while females weigh around 8.4 kg (19 lb).
Their tail is very special because it is prehensile. This means they can use it like an extra hand to grasp branches. Their fingers and limbs are also long, flexible, and strong, which helps them move easily through the trees.
How Do They Behave?
Red-faced spider monkeys live in groups that can change in size. This is called a fission-fusion society. At night, they might gather in large groups of up to 30 monkeys to sleep. These sleeping groups are often called "bands." A band usually has several females with their young, plus a few males to help protect them.
During the day, these large groups often split into smaller ones to travel and find food. They might travel across an area of about 255 hectares (630 acres).
These monkeys eat many different things, so they are considered omnivores. This means they eat both plants and animals. They will munch on termites and grubs. They also enjoy soft leaves, flowers, seeds, root tips, mushrooms, berries, and fruits. Sometimes, they even eat honey, decaying wood, or tree bark.
A baby red-faced spider monkey grows inside its mother for about 226 to 232 days. Young monkeys are weaned (stop drinking their mother's milk) after four or five years. This is also when they become old enough to have their own babies. In zoos, they can live for up to 33 years!
Where Do They Live?
The red-faced spider monkey is very particular about where it lives. It needs undisturbed primary rainforests. You can find them in northern Brazil, Suriname, Guyana, French Guiana, and Venezuela.
Because they are so good at climbing and jumping, these monkeys prefer to live high up in the rainforest trees. They spend most of their time looking for food in the very top layers of the forest, called the canopy.
How Are They Protected?
Many red-faced spider monkeys live in protected areas across their home range. They are also protected in the Amazon by a law called the Amazon Animal Protection Act of 1973.
As mentioned before, the IUCN Red List lists them as a Vulnerable animal. This means they are at risk of becoming endangered, and efforts are being made to protect them and their homes.
See also
In Spanish: Ateles paniscus para niños
