Spider monkeys are agile dwellers of the jungle canopy in Central and South America. They have very long arms and legs and a prehensile tail. This helps them to move with great speed through the treetops, using semi-brachiation to leap from branch to branch. These long appendages get in the way on the ground however, making their land motion rather slow and awkward. Their hook-like hands have highly reduced thumbs. Spider monkeys are considered one of the most intelligent new world monkeys.
Spider monkeys primarity eat fruit, although they will occasionally supplement their diet with insects, flowers, leaves, or honey. Spider monkeys live in bands of several dozen individuals that split up into smaller groups to forage during the day, then return to roost at night in a large tree. The groups are patrilocal, but led by a matriarch.
When threatened, spider monkeys bark, almost like a dog, and vigorously shake the branches. They may break off large dead tree limbs and drop them on intruders.