Spider monkey Facts

About the spider monkey

Spider monkeys range through tropical forests from southern Mexico down to Brazil. They stay high in the rainforest canopy, foraging 25 to 30 m above the ground, and need large areas of moist, undisturbed evergreen forest. Fruit makes up most of the diet, with leaves, flowers and insects now and then. Their name comes from the way they dangle by the tail with long limbs hanging, like a spider on a web.

Bands of up to 35 animals live together but break up to forage during the day. Studies from the 2000s rate them the smartest New World monkeys. They bark when threatened and also whinny like a horse. All seven species are under threat from hunting and logging.

Did you know?

• Of all spider monkeys, the brown spider monkey is in the worst shape, rated critically endangered.
• Spider monkeys are among the largest New World monkeys.
• Scientists use spider monkeys in laboratory studies of malaria.