The Monkey

New World Acrobat

      Ever read any Curious George books? The popular series features a friendly, highly energetic monkey that we can't help but love. In fact, when we think about monkeys, we immediately picture them as playful, banana-eating gymnasts-certainly one of the most popular and well-liked animals in the world!

      Let's take a look at one kind of especially interesting monkey species-spider monkeys. With very long arms, hands, and feet, spider monkeys are perfectly designed for life in the trees! Mostly living in the rain-forests of southern Mexico, Central America, and South America, spider monkeys have a remarkable tail. Waving around, curling and uncurling, and even grasping branches, spider monkeys' tail seems like it has a life of its own! In reality, the monkeys use it like a fifth limb. When jumping around 50 feet above the forest floor, five "hands" are definitely better than four. (The five limbs working together give this monkey a spider-like appearance-hence the name). But the tale of the tail isn't over yet! On the underside at the end of spider monkeys' tail is a fleshy pad that looks and acts like the palm of a hand. It has no hair on it because hair would slip on branches. With their hands and special grasping tail, spider monkeys are among the most skilled climbers in the forest, moving through the trees with grace AND speed.

      Spider monkeys are distinct in appearance, and no other primate looks quite like them. Weighing between 12 and 15 pounds, spider monkeys are highly variable in color. Some are black with a white chest and others are mostly yellowish-gray. But no matter what color, the fur is soft and smooth over most of the body.

Contents are courtesy of the Chicago Zoological Society, which operates Brookfield Zoo.