Бурая паукообразная обезьяна: исчезающий вид Колумбии и Венесуэлы

Species of New World monkey

The brown spider monkey or variegated spider monkey (Ateles hybridus) is a critically endangered species of spider monkey, a type of New World monkey, from forests in northern Colombia and northwestern Venezuela. Like all spider monkeys, it has long, slender limbs and a long prehensile tail. The brown spider monkey has a whitish belly and patch on the forehead, and – highly unusual among spider monkeys – its eyes can be pale blue. The brown spider monkey is one of the most threatened primates in the Neotropics and has been listed six times on The World's 25 Most Endangered Primates.

Some scientists recognize two subspecies, Ateles hybridus hybridus, found in both Colombia and Venezuela and Ateles hybridus brunneus, found between Cauca and Magdalena River in Colombia. These features make it possible for it to climb trees at high elevations, and hang and swing from one tree to another without often having to return to the ground. Adult males weigh between and adult females weigh between Its average adult body length is about Its coloration ranges from light brown to dark on upper parts including the head. Its most distinctive characteristic is a whitish triangular forehead patch, although not all individuals have one. Some have pale blue eyes but most are brown. Typically, the brown spider monkeys live between 10 and 27 years, but average about 22 years in the wild.

Even though the brown spider monkey spends most of its time high in trees, it occasionally descends to eat soil and drink water. Since it forages in high canopies, it prefers undisturbed primary forests. Average lifespan of a spider monkey is 27 years, however, in captivity it can reach 40 years old. The population is estimated to have decreased by at least 80% and some populations have already been extirpated. Few remaining populations are of adequate size to be viable long term. Habitat loss is ongoing within its wild range, and an estimated 98% of its habitat already is gone. Habitat loss is driven both by logging, and land clearance for agriculture and cattle ranches. Conservation efforts such as alleviating the detrimental effects of fragmented landscapes on the brown spider monkey population are being pursued. Corridors are being utilized to direct the brown spider monkeys back to their natural habitat that has been severely fragmented. A recent study performed in Central Colombia found that 21 out of 32 vertebrate species have used corridors that connect them to landscapes that have been fragmented. A small population of fewer than 30 individuals has been discovered in a protected area of Colombia, the Selva de Florencia National Natural Park [es]. This is the southernmost population of the brown spider monkey. Brown spider monkeys are also known from other reserves in both Colombia and Venezuela. Currently there are about 3,000 brown spider monkeys left in the between the forests in Columbia and Venezuela.