It’s easy to see why they call these guys spider monkeys. Less obvious is why they call them Geoffroy’s spider monkeys. Photographed on the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 260mm) ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/640th of a second.

I believe this tiny little frog (about half an inch) to be in the genus Eleutherodactylus. There are about 200 species, commonly called robber frogs or rain frogs. They are known for their high pitched calls. I photographed this one in the Punta Laguna Nature Reserve in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. Nikon D800 with Nikkor 105mm macro lens, ISO 1600, f/10 at 1/40th of a second.

While visiting Tulum with my wife, I took an afternoon to go check out the Punta Laguna Nature Preserve, hoping to find a few Geoffroy’s spider monkeys. Obviously, that mission was a success. I ended up seeing quite a few, in fact — on the ground, in the trees, flying through the air, etc. They are quite fun to watch with their lanky bodies and acrobatic maneuvers through the forest. Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 310mm) ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/500th of a second.

Here’s one from Mexico. A black-handed spider monkey, or if you prefer, Geoffroy’s spider monkey. I was in the Punta Laguna Nature Reserve, not far from Tulum when I came across quite a few of these guys. They spend most of their time high up in the trees, so it can be difficult at times to photograph them, but I was able to get several shots both high in the trees, like this guy, and even down on the ground.
Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/4000th of a second

This spider monkey appears to be recovering from a night of simian debauchery. But who knows, perhaps unkempt is the style these days down in the rain forest of the Yucatan Peninsula. This was just one of several spider monkeys that I saw on our trip to Tulum, Mexico back in late May.
Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 240mm) ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/160th of a second

Just back from a long weekend in Tulum, Mexico. This was a relax-on-the-beach trip so not much photography, but I did get away one afternoon to search for spider monkeys in a nearby reserve called Punta Laguna. I saw quite a few of the spider monkeys, and also a pair of howler monkeys in just a few hours in the reserve. They can be difficult to photograph but I was able to get a few decent shots in the clear, including this young monkey swinging from tree to tree.
Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 260mm) ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/400th of a second