Spider monkey

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/spider-monkey

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Ateles (genus)
2. What is the lifespan?Up to 40 years in captivity; estimated 20-30 years in the wild
3. What makes spider monkeys so good at swinging in trees?Spider monkeys have very long arms and a tail that works like a fifth hand. Their flexible joints and strong tail let them swing quickly from branch to branch.
4. Why do spider monkeys help the rainforest grow?They eat lots of fruit and then drop the seeds in their poop. This spreads the seeds all over the forest, helping new trees grow.

Arboreal: Adapted for living in trees, characterized by specialized morphology for climbing and navigating arboreal environments.
Prehensile Tail: A highly specialized tail capable of grasping and holding objects, functioning as an appendage for locomotion and manipulation.
Fission-Fusion Society: A social system where individuals form fluid groups that merge and split frequently, adapting to resource availability and social dynamics.
Keystone Species: A species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance, playing a critical role in ecosystem structure and function.