Peruvian spider monkey

Black Face Spider Monkey ( Ateles chamek) resting

The black face spider monkey ( Ateles chamek) resting in South America is a living primate species from the family of peg-tail monkeys ( Atelidae ). He was summed up recently with the Rotgesichtklammeraffen to a common type.

Features

Black face spider, like all spider monkeys slim built primates. The limbs are long and thin, his hands hook-shaped and re-formed the thumb as an adjustment to the Fort a swinging motion. The tail, which is longer than the body is formed as a prehensile tail: he is hairless on the underside at the rear. The fur of these animals is colored black, eponymous feature is in contrast to related species also black, hairless face.

Distribution and habitat

These primates live in western Brazil ( south of the Rio Solimões and west of the Rio Tapajós ) and in eastern Peru and northern Bolivia. Their habitat are low-lying rainforests.

Way of life

Black face spider monkeys are diurnal and arboreal. They move in the branches and quickly sent away and rely the prehensile tail as a fifth limb a. To feed, they can hang longer on the tail or a limb. They live in groups of up to 30 animals, which are often divided during foraging in subgroups. The food of the animals composed mainly of fruits, in a lesser extent, leaves and other plant parts.

Endangering

Main threat of the black face spider is hunting for their meat. Add to this the destruction of their habitat through deforestation and mining. Area, he is still common, but since the total population has declined significantly, ( endangered ), it is " critically endangered " by the IUCN as listed.