Jeremy Wenstrom, age 10, of Dover, Del., for his question:

WHERE DOES THE SPIDER MONKEY LIVE?

The spider monkey is a large monkey that is noted for using its tail as an extra limb. It lives wild in the tropical forests of the Western Hemisphere, from central Mexico to central Boliva. It is also a popular resident living in many American and Canadian zoos.

A spider money can hang by its tail and even pick up objects by curling it around them. This monkey sometimes hangs upside down with all four limbs and its tail grasping a branch. It actually resembles a huge spider when it is in this position.

These monkeys often use their arms to swing from branch to branch.

Spider monkeys live in groups of from two to 100 monkeys and spend most of their time in high branches, where they eat nuts and fruit.

Various species have black, brown, golden, reddish or tan fur. The adult spider monkey weighs from 10 to 15 pounds and grows to be about two feet long, not including his tail.

Spider monkeys, unlike most all other monkeys, have only four fingers and no thumbs.