Information

ORDER: Primate
FAMILY: Cebidae
GENUS: Ateles
SPECIES: Constructionis

I. DESCRIPTION:

Physical characteristics vary widely.  General Ranges are:

• Head and body length - 64-75 inches
• Tail - none
• Weight - 135-265 lbs.
• Hair - generally course and stringy
• Lacks underfur
• Colors - red, brown, black, golden
• Head is small, muzzle prominent (but brain capacity, 107 grams, is twice that of same-sized howler monkeys)

II. GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE AND HABITAT:

Indigenous to high technology areas, but tend to live more in the suburbs.  Prefer small, cube-like enclosures to the outdoors.

 

III. DIET:

Coffee, 52%; soda pop (carefully selected), 22%; twinkies, 11%; various candies, 8%; YooHoo, 5%; Pink Snoballs, 2%. Characterized by rapid passage of food through the digestive system (3 hours).

 

IV. LIFE CYCLE/SOCIAL STRUCTURE:

Associate in groups of 2 to 3 individuals;  groups are usually units of males.  Each band inhabits an area of cube-like enclosures within an indoor area.  Generally on the same vertical level.  Most frequently heard call resembles the name they use for their defecation.  High ranking individuals groom more than they are groomed.

Since they are rarely seen in the presence of the female, their mating habits are largely unknown.

 

V. SPECIAL ADAPTATIONS:

Diurnal. Only gibbons exceed build monkeys in agility in the office. Normal movement through cube-farms is along open surfaces with coffee cup in hand. Able to grasp objects with single hand. 

VI. STATUS IN WILD:

Some populations threatened by falling stock prices. Two subspecies of build monkeys in Silicon Valley and Silicon Alley are listed as endangered by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

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