| Sumario: | This literature review summarizes and clarifies taxonomy, geographic distribution,
status, habitat and food choice, threats, social organization and reproduction of spider
monkeys, genus Ateles. The aim of the study is to asses why spider monkeys are
vulnerable for extinction and discuss possible conservation actions. Spider monkeys live
in subtropical and tropical rainforest in the Neotropic ecoregion from southern Mexico
to northern Bolivia. At the time sixteen species and subspecies are accepted, of which
thirteen are considered as endangered, vulnerable or critically endangered at the IUCN's
red list; only three of them are at least concern. They are one of the largest New World
monkeys. They travel fast with assistant by their prehensile tail, have large home ranges
and prefer undisturbed old rainforest as habitat and are considered to be ripe-fruit
specialists, although they have been seen to eat larger amount of unripe fruits and leaves
and can temporally shift habitat in search for food. Many different kinds of fruits are
eaten depending on the availability and season but species from Moraceae, Myristicaeae
and Burseraceae family are reported from several sites. They are also important seed
dispersals, which may play a role in the rainforest composition in long terms. They live
in a fission-fusion system in sex segregated social groups, where small subgroups join
and split. Reproductively they mature late and have long interbirth interval. Major
threats are habitat reduction and not least hunting. Many of the spider monkeys
characteristics and demand for special and large habitat and suitable food makes it very
vulnerable for extinction, and all this information is important for the conservation of
the species.
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