Spider Monkey Facts

Some quick facts about spider monkeys.

Spider monkeys hang out in groups of flexible size, usually anywhere between 6 and 40 monkeys together at a time.

Females outnumber males in these groups by 2 to 1 usually.

The spider monkey tail functions like a 5th arm. It is prehensile, which means it can grip, and has no hair but rather ridges like human fingertips.

The gestation period for babies is about 7.5 months. The mother will carry its baby for many months, first on its front and then later on its back.

The Spider monkeys habitat is a tropical rainforest.

The spider monkey is a "New World" monkey as opposed to "Old World", which means it originates from North or South America.

Spider monkeys can swing through trees as fast as humans can run on the ground. They like to stay in the upper canopy of rain forests.

Spider monkeys are active during the day and sleep at night.

The normal weight of a spider monkey is between 12 and 20 pounds.

Spider monkeys eat fruits, nuts, seeds, bird eggs, and insects.

Spider monkeys are usually about 19 to 20 inches long counting the head and body, but if you add in the tail, they stretch to being about 27 to 30 inches in length.

Female spider monkeys are usually more dominant leaders in spider monkey troops.

The spider monkey lifespan is about 27 years in the wild or 33 years in captivity.

Different specific species of spider monkeys have varying population levels. Some types of spider monkeys are endangered, while others have safe populations.