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Ateles fusciceps
brown-headed spider monkey


By Bryan Cifranic

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Family: Atelidae
Genus: Ateles
Species: Ateles fusciceps

Geographic Range

Ateles fusciceps, the Brown-headed Spider Monkey, can be found from Central America to northern South America (Primate Gallery 2000).

Habitat

Brown-headed Spider Monkeys are found in the rainforests of Central and South America. The majority of their time is spent in the uppermost branches of trees, foraging for food. Most climates allow them to live year-round in the same area. However, in drier habitats, they must travel up 18 km (10 mi.) each day in search of food(Microsoft Encarta 2000).

Terrestrial Biomes
rainforest

Physical Description

Range mass
0 to 0 kg
(0.00 to 0.00 lb)

Average mass
9 kg
(19.82 lb)

Brown-headed Spider Monkeys have long, narrow limbs and a prehensile tail that is used as a fifth limb to swing between branches as they forage for food. Their tail is much longer in length than their body. The tail measures 70 to 85 cm (28 to 34 in.) while the body ranges from 40 to 55 cm (16 to 22 in.). The average weight for both the male and female is approximately 9 kg (20 lbs.). Brown-headed Spider Monkeys can be separated into two subspecies. The subspecies A. f. fusciceps has a brownish-black body with a brown head. A. f. robustus is completely black except for a few white strands of hair on the chin. Their coat is long and shaggy, usually with a lighter underside. A white ring surrounds each eye. Their skull is structured so that they have forward facing eyes which allow them to precisely gauge distances as they swing from tree to tree. The hands and feet of A. fusciceps are adapted for climbing. Brown-headed Spider Monkey species lacks a thumb, which increases the strength of their grip and helps with climbing (Sleeper 1997; Napier 1985).

Reproduction

Brown-headed spider monkeys indicate that they are prepared to mate through changes in behavior, scents, and visual signals. The estrous cycle is 26 days and females will usually associate with a male for up to three days, with mating lasting between 5 to 10 minutes.

Average number of offspring
1

Average number of offspring
1
[External Source: AnAge]

Average gestation period
227 days
[External Source: AnAge]

Average birth mass
400 g
(14.10 oz)
[External Source: AnAge]

Range weaning age
20 (high) months

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female)
51 months

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female)
Sex: female

1515 days
[External Source: AnAge]

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male)
Sex: male

1826 days
[External Source: AnAge]

Female Brown-headed Spider Monkeys reach sexual maturity at 51 months. Usually a single offspring is produced and, once born, the young will be cared for only by the mother until weaned at 20 months. On average, Brown-headed Spider Monkeys have a life span of 24 years. (Fleagle 1998; Microsoft Encarta 2000; Sleeper 1997).

Key Reproductive Features
iteroparous ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); viviparous

Only the female cares for her young, until it is weaned at 20 months. Male brown-headed spider monkeys live in their natal groups for their entire life. Females will disperse at adolescence.

Parental Investment
pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); post-independence association with parents

Lifespan/Longevity

Average lifespan
Status: captivity

24.0 years
[External Source: Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research]

Average lifespan
Status: captivity

21.5 years
[External Source: Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research]

Behavior

Brown-headed spider monkeys are active during the day, sleep at night, and spend most of their time in the trees. These monkeys associate in loose groups of about 20 individuals, but it is rare to find them gathered in one place. Individuals drift between subgroups of varying sizes. They move through the forest using both their hands and feet to swing between trees, and walk in an upright position along branches. Brown-headed Spider Monkeys can leap in excess of 9 meters (30 ft.) from branch to branch (Fleagle 1998; Kinzey 1997; Microsoft Encarta 2000; Napier 1985).

Key Behaviors
arboreal ; diurnal ; social

Food Habits

Brown-headed Spider Monkeys prefer ripe fruits and leaves, but will eat nuts, seeds, insects, and sometimes eggs. The climate of the rainforests in which they live ensures an abundant supply of food year-round, allowing them to be able to reside in the same area throughout the year (MacDonald 1999; Microsoft Encarta 2000).

Primary Diet
herbivore (Folivore , Frugivore )

Animal Foods
eggs; insects

Plant Foods
leaves; seeds, grains, and nuts; fruit

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

In some areas Brown-headed Spider Monkeys may be hunted for food.

Economic Importance for Humans: Negative

There are no negative effects of Brown-headed Spider Monkeys.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species [Link]
Critically Endangered
More Information

US Federal List [Link]
No special status

CITES [Link]
Appendix II

One of the main reasons Brown-headed Spider Monkeys are declining in numbers is due to deforestation of their habitat. Some of the monkeys are able to survive in areas that have been partially logged, but few can live where rainforests have been completely removed.(Microsoft Encarta 2000).

For More Information

Find Ateles fusciceps information at

Contributors

Bryan Cifranic (author), Fresno City College, Carl Johansson (editor), Fresno City College.

References

Bourne, , Geoffrey H. 1974. Primate Odyssey. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons.

Flannery, S. 2000. "Brown-headed Spider Monkey" (On-line). Accessed February 11, 2001 at http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/factsheets/ateles_fusciceps.html.

Fleagle, J. 1999. Primate Adaptations and Evolution. San Diego: Academic Press.

Hershkovitz, P. 1977. Living New World Monkeys (Platyrrhini) with an Introduction to Primates, Vol 1. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Kinzey, W. 1997. Ateles. in New World Primates: Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior. ed. Warren G. Kinzey. New York: Aldine de Gruyter.

MacDonald, D. 1999. The Encyclopedia of Mammals. London: Andromeda Oxford Limited.

Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia, 2000. "Monkey (animal)" (On-line). Accessed February 8, 2001 at http://encarta.msn.com/find/Concise.asp?z=1&pg=2&ti=761569669.

Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia, 2000. "Spider Monkey" (On-line). Accessed February 8, 2001 at http://encarta.msn.com/find/Concise.asp?z=1&pg=2&ti=761565356.

Napier, J. 1985. The Natural History of the Primates. Massachusetts: The MIT Press.

Preston-Mafhan, R. 1992. Primates of the World. New York: Facts on File, Inc..

Primate Gallery, 2000. "Spider Monkeys and Woolly Monkeys" (On-line). Accessed March 8, 2001 at http://www.selu.com/bio/PrimateGallery/primates/Cebidae/Atelinae.html.

Rowe, N. 1996. The Pictorial Guide to Living Primates. New York: Pogonias Press.

Sleeper, B. 1997. Primates: The Amazing World of Lemurs, Monkeys, and Apes. San Francisco: Chronicle Books.

To cite this page: Cifranic, B. 2002. "Ateles fusciceps" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed June 01, 2012 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Ateles_fusciceps.html

Disclaimer: The Animal Diversity Web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students. ADW doesn't cover all species in the world, nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe. Though we edit our accounts for accuracy, we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts. While ADW staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that we believe are reputable, we cannot necessarily endorse the contents of references beyond our control.

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