![]() Other spider monkey subspecies’ have gotten onto the critical list due to losing their habitat, mature rain forests, to farming and due to being used as a food source. Note, however, that ICUN classifies the nine other subspecies of Ateles Geoffroyi as follows: 3 are critically endangered, 3 are endangered, 2 are vulnerable and 1 is low risk, indicating a general worrisome condition that will continue to be studied and assessed. Ateles Geoffroyi geoffroyi is subject to trade controls under CITES Appendix II, which lists species that are not necessarily now threatened with extinction but that may become so unless trade is closely controlled. ![]() Our subspecies of black-handed spider monkeys is considered to be of “Low Risk/Least Concern” for extinction according to the new, 2003 Red List of Threatened Species published worldwide by IUCN. They scratch themselves with hands and feet, but most of their social grooming is mothers grooming their young. Since the thumb is absent, the Spider monkey’s grooming is not as developed as in other primates. If this fails, they fragment into subgroups and run. When threatened, both males and females of the troop scare intruders away with rough barking and wild behavior displays. Sleeping high in a tree above the canopy also affords security from predators. The sleeping trees are often chosen for their ability to provide a ready source of food. ![]() Spider monkeys are diurnal and at night use sleeping trees which are usually tall enough so that the crown is free from the canopy beneath it having a broad open crown that has horizontally forked branches for prolonged resting postures. When food is scarce the groups tend to avoid overlapping territories. It was also observed that males were not able to plan an economic and varied food route like the leading females therefore they have a less varied diet. It was previously thought that daily feeding routes were always the same. According to recent research, the routes taken by a leading female seems to be planned in advance, are highly economical and will differ greatly from day to day. A troop’s social system seems to have evolved in parallel with the species food requirements which is directed at the most nutritious, large fleshy seeded fruits. The females have a more active leading role than males. These groups will roam independently in the same general area the only persistent association is that of a female with her offspring. Unless there is an abundance of preferred food available, the subgroup size will consist of fewer than 4 animals. Spider monkeys live in medium-sized, loosely associated groups of about 30 individuals, which fragment into subgroups of varying smaller sizes and composition. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |