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 Cloudbridge offers a habitat for the Central American Spider Monkey,
Ateles geoffroyi,
a Central American primate with some unique characteristics. Though
diurnal, they are often heard rather than seen as they move in groups
of 3 to 5 within and between trees, usually high in the canopy. They
have pink hairless faces and reddish-brown bodies with long dark limbs.
(They are easily distinguished from the only other species of primate
found in the area, the Capuchin: the latter has a white neck area.)
Legs: 5. Thumbs: 0.
This monkey's most distinctive physical feature is a long, prehensile tail that
functions as a fifth limb. The spider monkey reputedly has the
strongest and most agile prehensile tail of any mammal on earth. Their
arms are long and muscular, as are their fingers. Strangely, they have no thumbs.
An X-ray of their hands reveals a mere vestige of the thumb bones. All
these features are adapations to their lifestyle of swinging from
branch to branch and tree to tree in search of forest fruit, their
principal diet.
Since
fruit may be scarce and seasonal, spider monkeys require large areas of
habitat. It is encouraging to discover this endangered species at
Cloudbridge, foraging as they move from tree to tree. Their presence is no doubt due in part to this reserve
being adjacent to the extensive Chirripo National Park.
Lifestyles of the High and Mighty
Spider monkeys
have been spotted in several locations on Cloudbridge, including
Cloudbridge North, the Pizote Trail, Gavilan and even from the porch of
Casa Amanzimtoti. However the sightings are sporadic and little is
known abouth their lifestyles. No systematic study of their behavior in
the Chirripo region has been done -- yet.
Copyright
©2006 Ian Giddy. Last revised 20 April 2006
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