The Black Spider Monkey

Ateles paniscus, or the Black Spider Monkey, is often found in mature, moist, tropical and subtropical rain forests. They are acrobatic primates weighing around 15-19 lbs. They primarily eat fruits and seeds, making them necessary for tree and plant development and the dispersion of seeds. Their height is around 16-24 in. and 24-32 in. for their tail. As continuous deforestation in the amazon proceeds, a "die-back" of the forest destroys the homes of many amazonian species. The Black spider monkey is considered vulnerable to extinction. The adaptations and changes are caused by a multitude of problems caused by climate change. As inland forests transform into dry savannas, less fruits will be available to the monkey. A change in fruits will depend on the decision of relocation by the female leader of the troop. In the dry savannas, fruits such as figs (figs ficus) grow, causing a change in diet of the black spider monkey pack. This change in diet may cause a slight change in the dental structure and the digestive system of the monkey. In terms of physical adaptations, these changes are predicted due to a variety of problems: -Stronger Legs -Change in Dental Structure -Loss of bones in the hand -Enhanced Vision and Alertness -Stronger Nails and fingers Climate Change is destroying the habitats and changing the behavior not only the black spider monkeys- but many species in the amazon. It is up to the future generations of humankind to eliminate of these problems.