Prospección alimentaria del mono araña (Ateles geoffroyi) en petenes del humedal costero de Campeche, México/ Alimentary prospection of the spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi) in petenes of costal wetland of Campeche, Mexico

Abstract

ABSTRACT. For an inter-seasonal 4-month period, we recorded the parts of plant species consumed by a troop of 16 spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) in three forest fragments in the western wetland of the Yucatan Peninsula. In these forest fragments, spider monkeys ate vegetal parts of five plant species: leaves and fruits of fig (Ficus maxima) and zapote (Manilkara zapota), leaves and flowers of white mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa), leaves of huano palm (Sabal yapa), and fruits of chechem (Metopium brownei). With exception of the latter, plant species consumed by spider monkeys in the forest fragments studied, constitute the most important forest resources in the regional wetland. Consumption of vegetal parts from white mangrove in our study sites represents the first record of this plant species in the diet of spider monkey within the Neotropics.