Editing Atelinae (section)

{{Short description|Subfamily of New World monkeys}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| name = Atelinae<ref name=msw3>{{MSW3 Groves|pages=150-152|d=12100392}}</ref>
| fossil_range = [[Middle Miocene]] to present
| image = Ateles-fusciceps 54724770b.jpg
| image_caption = [[Black-headed spider monkey]] (''Ateles fusciceps'')
| taxon = Atelinae
| authority = [[John Edward Gray|Gray]], 1825
| subdivision_ranks = [[Genus|Genera]]
| subdivision = ''[[Spider monkey|Ateles]]''<br/>
''[[Woolly spider monkey|Brachyteles]]''<br/>
{{extinct}}''[[Caipora bambuiorum|Caipora]]''<br/>
''[[Lagothrix]]''<br/>
{{extinct}}''[[Protopithecus]]''<br/>
{{extinct}}''[[Solimoea]]''<br/>
{{extinct}}''[[Stirtonia (mammal)|Stirtonia]]''
}}

The '''Atelinae''' are a subfamily of [[New World monkey]]s in the family [[Atelidae]], and includes the various [[spider monkey|spider]] and [[woolly monkey]]s.<ref name=Robinson&Janson1987/> The primary distinguishing feature of the '''atelines''' is their long [[prehensile tail]]s, which can support their entire body weight.

Atelines live on the [[Americas|American]] continent from southern [[Mexico]] through central [[Brazil]] and [[Bolivia]]. [[diurnal animal|Diurnal]] and [[arboreal]], they move speedily and acrobatically through the trees using their tails. Atelines, along with the related [[howler monkey]]s, are the largest of the New World monkeys. They live in groups, show amicable intergroup relations, and can coalesce into large aggregations for extended periods of time.<ref name=Robinson&Janson1987/>

Atelines are frugivore-folivores, their diet consisting primarily of fruits, seeds and leaves,<ref name=Robinson&Janson1987/><ref name=Rosenberger1994/> with ''Ateles'' being the most frugivorous, fruits comprising over 80% of their diet.<ref name=Robinson&Janson1987/> Those species relying most heavily on patchily distributed fruit trees have the largest ranges.<ref name=Robinson&Janson1987/> These animals are characterized by a slow reproduction rate: females only bear young once every two to four years. Many species are hunted for their meat, and the destruction of their habitat likewise endangers them;<ref name=Robinson&Janson1987/> the [[spider monkey]] already stands at the edge of extermination.