Category: Mammals
The black-headed spider monkey is an arboreal, diurnal species of primate native to Central and South America (New World monkey). Spider monkeys tend to travel and forage in the upper levels of the forest – when travelling they spend much more time hanging and swinging by their arms (brachiation) than they do walking or running on all fours. Fruit makes up the bulk of their diet, followed by other types of vegetable matter, honey, and occasionally insects such as termites and ants.
The age-defying Brandt’s bat
In most mammals, larger size correlates with longer lifespan, but that is not the case with the Brandt’s bat, who can live up to 41 years and weigh less than 0.28 ounces! These bats resemble larger, longer-lived mammals in that they mature slowly and have fewer offspring – but the size difference is dramatic: a female Bonobo lives for approximately 40 years as well, but she outweighs the Brandt’s bat by a factor of 3,771! Oddly enough, it is suspected that the mutated gene that causes the bat’s dwarfish size is the same one that leads to its long lifespan. Studying animals with unusual longevity like the Brandt’s bat does more than just satisfy our curiosity, it could lead to longer, healthier lifespans for humans and other animals!
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Discover Animals is a web-based educational resource offered by the NAIA
