Spider Monkeys Behavior, Ecology and Evolution of the Genus Ateles

Spider monkeys are one of the most widespread New World primate genera, ranging from southern Mexico to Bolivia. Although they are common in zoos, spider monkeys are traditionally very difficult to study in the wild, because they are fast moving, live high in the canopy and are almost always found in small subgroups that vary in size and composition throughout the day. This book is an assimilation of both published and previously unpublished research. It is a comprehensive source of information for academic researchers and graduate students interested in primatology, evolutionary anthropology and behavioral ecology and covers topics such as taxonomy, diet, sexuality and reproduction, and conservation.

1. Introduction Christina J. Campbell; Part I. Taxonomy, Phylogeny and Evolution: 2. Morphology and evolution of the spider monkey, genus Ateles Alfred Rosenberger, Lauren Halenar, Siobanán B. Cooke and Walter Hartwig; 3. The taxonomic status of spider monkeys in the 21st century Andrew Collins; Part II. Ecology: 4. Diets of wild spider monkeys Anthony Di Fiore, Andres Link and J. Lawrence Dew; 5. Factors influencing spider monkey habitat use and ranging patterns Robert B. Wallace; 6. Seed dispersal J. Lawrence Dew; Part III. Behavior and Reproduction: 7. Locomotion and positional behavior of spider monkeys Dionisios Youlatos; 8. Communication in spider monkeys: the function and mechanisms underlying the use of the whinny Gabriel Ramos-Fernández; 9. Social interactions, social relationships and the social system of spider monkeys Filippo Aureli and Colleen Schaffner; 10. Spider monkey reproduction and sexual behavior Christina J. Campbell and K. Nicole Gibson; 11. Immaturity in spider monkeys: a risky business Laura Greer Vick; 12. Demography and group composition of spider monkeys Yukiko Shimooka, Christina J. Campbell, Anthony Di Fiore, Annika M. Felton, Kosei Izawa, Andres Link, Akisato Nishimura, Gabriel Ramos-Fernández and Robert B. Wallace; Part IV. Interactions with Humans: 13. Spider monkey conservation in the 21st century: recognizing risks and opportunities Gabriel Ramos-Fernández and Robert B. Wallace; 14. The ethnoprimatology of the spider monkeys: from past to present Loretta Cormier and Bernardo Urbani.

Spider monkeys are traditionally very difficult to study in the wild, but there has been an expansion in research being carried out on this genus in the past decade. This 2008 book is an assimilation of both published and previously unpublished research on spider monkeys, for academic researchers and graduate students.