Clamp-tailed monkeys

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Clamp-tailed monkeys
Geoffroy's spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi)

Geoffroy's spider monkey ( Ateles geoffroyi )

Systematics
without rank: Euarchonta
Order : Primates (Primates)
Subordination : Dry- nosed primates (Haplorrhini)
Partial order : Monkey (anthropoidea)
without rank: New World Monkey (Platyrrhini)
Family : Clamp-tailed monkeys
Scientific name
Atelidae
Gray , 1825
Brown-headed clamp monkey

The spotted monkeys ( Atelidae) are a primate family from the group of the New World monkeys (Platyrrhini). They get their name from their prehensile tail. Spider-tailed monkeys live in Central and South America and are predominantly herbivorous tree dwellers. The family includes over 25 species in five genera, including spider monkeys , spider monkeys , woolly monkeys , and howler monkeys .

features

Clamp-tailed monkeys reach a head body length of 30 to 80 centimeters, the tail becomes up to 90 centimeters long. The weight is between 5 and 15 kilograms. The largest representatives are the spider and howler monkeys, the largest primates on the American continent. Usually there is a clear sexual dimorphism in terms of size - males are significantly heavier than females, and sometimes also in terms of coat color. The color of the fur varies depending on the species and habitat between different shades of gray, red, brown or black. The limbs are relatively long, the hands hook-shaped and the thumbs sometimes retracted. The tail, which is as long as the body, serves as a prehensile tail: the rear part of the underside is hairless and developed as a tactile skin area. In some species, the females have penis-like clitorides . The dental formula of atelidae is like most New World monkeys I 2/2, C 1/1, P 3/3, M 3/3, a total they have 36 teeth.

distribution and habitat

Spiked-tailed monkeys only occur on the American continent , their range extends from southern Mexico to Bolivia and southern Brazil . They are all forest dwellers who live in different forest types. Some representatives like the spider monkeys are dependent on primary forests , while howler monkeys can also live in deciduous forests and even savanna-like habitats.

Way of life

Spider-tailed monkeys are diurnal and mostly stay in the trees, only occasionally they come to the ground. Movement in the branches takes place on all fours or in a swinging way. The spider monkeys and spider monkeys in particular show great skill and are similar in their locomotion to the gibbons, which are not closely related .

These primates live in groups that are usually composed of several males and females and can contain up to 100 animals. Sometimes they split up into smaller subgroups in their daily foraging for food. Some of the groups inhabit huge areas where they are (over 1000 hectares for woolly monkeys), but usually do not show any pronounced territorial behavior. Also within the group - compared to other primates - there is a rather peaceful and less aggressive interaction with one another, especially with spider monkeys.

Communication by means of loud shouting plays an important role. It is used to inform other groups of your own whereabouts and thus to avoid collisions or to find the other group members. This screaming behavior is particularly pronounced in howler monkeys, which are equipped with enlarged hyoid bone and thyroid cartilage for loud screams.

food

Woolly monkeys belong to the more fruit-eating spider- tailed monkeys

Claw-tailed monkeys are herbivores, but the composition of the diet varies by species and season. Howler monkeys, and to a lesser extent spider monkeys, are leaf-eaters - like many other leaf-eating mammals, they take long breaks to compensate for the low nutritional value of their food. Spider monkeys and woolly monkeys, on the other hand, feed mostly on fruits. Flowers, seeds and other plant material also play a role. They also eat insects and other small animals to a lesser extent.

Reproduction

Spotty-tailed monkeys are generally characterized by a very low reproductive rate, with the female only giving birth to a young every few years. The gestation period is six to eight months, the litter size usually one. The rearing of the young is predominantly or entirely the responsibility of the female. The boy is weaned after one to two years, and puberty occurs after four to seven years. They are rather long-lived animals that, at least in human care, can live for several decades.

Danger

Like many other forest-dwelling animals in Latin America, many spider-tailed monkeys suffer from the ongoing destruction of their habitat - habitat specialists in particular are affected. In addition, they are hunted for their meat - their large size makes them a worthwhile target for hunters. The IUCN lists most species as endangered or threatened.

Systematics

Brown howler monkey

The spiked-tailed monkeys are counted among the New World monkeys (Platyrrhini), their closest relatives are likely to be the Sakia monkeys .

The family includes over 25 species in five genera:

The howler monkeys form the subfamily Alouattinae, while the other genera are grouped together as Atelinae. A possible cladogram looks like this (according to Geissmann, 2003):

 Spike-tailed monkeys (Atelidae) 
  Atelinae  

 Spider monkeys ( Ateles )


  NN  

 Spider monkey ( Brachyteles )


   

 Woolly monkey ( Lagothrix )


   

 Yellow-tailed woolly monkey ( Oreonax )





   

 Howler Monkey ( Alouatta )



literature

  • Thomas Geissmann : Comparative Primatology. Springer-Verlag, Berlin et al. 2003, ISBN 3-540-43645-6 .
  • Don E. Wilson, DeeAnn M. Reeder (Eds.): Mammal Species of the World. A taxonomic and geographic Reference. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2005, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4 .

Web links

Commons : Bracket-tailed monkeys  - Collection of images, videos, and audio files