Black-Headed Spider Monkey
They are a species of spider monkey and a type of new world monkey. This species is composed of two subspecies, differing in their colour pattern: Brown-headed spider monkeys, which exhibit brownish-black overall fur and a brown head; and Colombian spider monkeys that are totally black, displaying only a few white patches on their chin. The Black-headed spider monkeys are excellent climbers and have a strong grip due to lacking a thumb. They weigh about 8.8-8.9kg and have a length of 39-53.8 cm.
Habitat
The natural range of these animals covers some parts of Central and South America. While the Brown-headed spider monkeys are generally found in Ecuador (and possibly, in Columbia), the Colombian black spider monkeys occupy territory from south-western Colombia to eastern Panama. Both of these sub-species live in dry forests as well as humid and cloud forests. Populations in Ecuador are most frequently found in wetter forests such as tropical and subtropical humid forests.
Diet
The Black-headed spider monkeys are herbivores (folivores and frugivores), they primarily feed upon ripe fruits and leaves, supplementing their usual diet with occasional nuts, seeds, insects, and eggs.
Breeding
Little is known about the mating behaviour of Black-headed spider monkeys. It is known, however, that when mating, females may stay with a male for around three days and may mate with several males. It means that this species may exhibit either polygynandrous (promiscuous) (both males and females breed with multiple mates) or polyandrous (one female mates with several males in a breeding season) mating systems. All spider monkeys are able to breed at any time of the year. Females usually produce offspring at intervals of 3 years. The gestation period lasts between 226 and 232 days, after which a single infant is born. The newborn baby will ride the back of its mother until 16 weeks old. Weaning occurs at 20 months of age. After reaching adolescence, females leave their natal group, whereas males continue living with the group throughout their lives. The age of sexual maturity is 51 months old in females and 56 months old in males.
Population
The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the Black-headed spider monkeys’ total population. According to the Tropical Conservation Science resource, the total population of the Brown-headed spider monkey subspecies is around 250 individuals in northwestern Ecuador. Overall, Black-headed spider monkeys are classified as Critically Endangered (CR) and their numbers are decreasing.
Threats
The Black-headed spider monkeys are nowadays threatened by deforestation, which negatively affect the overall population of this species. Although some populations still inhabit partially logged forests, hardly any group can be found in areas, where the rainforest habitat is totally wiped out. Additionally, localized threats include hunting for food.
Conservation
CONSERVATION ACTIONS
In Ecuador, it is protected in accordance with Resolution No. 105 of the Ministry of the Environment. This prohibits hunting and commercialization throughout Ecuador.
Proposed measures:
Research on its range and the size and status of remaining populations;
Evaluation of the effectiveness of the protected areas where it occurs;
Research on its ability to cope with deforestation and forest fragmentation, and proximity to humans and their activities;
Research on the extent of illegal hunting by colonists and Indigenous people;
Evaluate the needs and possibilities for increasing the size of the current protected areas and providing for more protected areas where it occurs;
Carry out education awareness campaigns and environmental education programs in its range - emphasizing particular aspects of the traffic in, and commercialization of, primates; and
Ex-situ breeding programme, and associated research needed for such (e.g., husbandry, reproduction) .
It is listed on Appendix II of CITES.