Which rainforest monkey is famous for using its prehensile tail as a fifth limb?

The spider monkey is famous for using its prehensile tail as a fifth limb.

Spider monkeys are New World monkeys of tropical forests in Central and South America. Their tails have a hairless gripping surface at the tip and can support the body while the monkey reaches for fruit or swings between branches. Long arms and legs give them a distinctive, spider-like appearance.

They spend much of their time in the upper canopy and are especially important fruit eaters. By swallowing fruit and later passing the seeds through their digestive systems, spider monkeys help disperse plants over substantial distances.

Other rainforest animals also have gripping tails, including some opossums and porcupines, but the spider monkey is the classic primate example. Howler monkeys and capuchins are also common New World monkeys, yet their tails differ in structure and their movement patterns are less specialized for suspended, long-distance canopy travel.