FaunaHub
ENEndangeredPartial review

Geoffroy's Spider Monkey

Ateles geoffroyi

Geoffroy's spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi), a long-limbed monkey in the canopy.

Geoffroy's spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi), Guatemala.

Image: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

At a glance

IUCN category
EN · Endangered
Animal group
Mammals
Population trend
Decreasing
FaunaHub record reviewed
Checked against IUCN
Matches source — IUCN's 2021 global assessment of Ateles geoffroyi says EndangeredChecked 2026-10-09 against IUCN's Red List export published 2026-07-28 · assessment

Conservation overview

Geoffroy's spider monkey is a long-limbed, prehensile-tailed monkey that swings through the rainforest canopy. It is assessed as Endangered.

It uses its tail like a fifth limb and disperses many forest seeds.

Range & habitat

Forests of Central America and far northern South America.

Major threats

Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.

  • Deforestation
  • Hunting
  • Fragmentation

Why it matters

As a large, agile seed disperser, Geoffroy's spider monkey helps regenerate Central American forests and is a flagship for their protection.

Gallery

A male Geoffroy's spider monkey hanging from a branch.

Geoffroy's spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi); a male.

Image: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Sources

Sources for Geoffroy's Spider Monkey

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is it called a spider monkey?
Its very long, slender limbs and prehensile tail give it a spider-like look as it spreads across branches; the tail can grip like an extra hand.
Why is Geoffroy's spider monkey Endangered?
Published assessments cite deforestation, hunting, and habitat fragmentation. See the IUCN Red List for the current assessment.