Object Status:
Unlocated
Accession Date:
By 1796
Primary Source Reference:
A Scientific and Descriptive Catalogue of Peale's Museum (Philadelphia, 1796), p. 10
Additional Source Text:
In his Natural History Lecture No. 1 (Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University),Peale wrote: "Coaita, is the most remarkable. It is distinguished by its 4 fingers, the hands being destitute of a Thumb – The feet have 5 toes, with flat nails. Its limbs are of great length and remarkably slender. These are sometimes called the spider Monkey. The inner part of the tail near the end, is naked, but furnished with a thick skin like the hard skin of the hands or feet. They make extraordinary and frequent use of their Tail. It is said that they are the most active of Monkies, and quite enliven the forests of South America. . . . They are of a mild and docile disposition. One I had alive, would follow my Son around the State-House-Gardens, frequently walking erect, and when he sat down it would lay by him, thus in various ways it showed particular attachment, and gentle Manners. It would approach without fear, and would search his pockets in hopes of finding something to eat. A very singular part of this Animal seems to have been unnoticed by authors of Natural History. I mean two holes near the collar-bone, which emited a viscous sort of liquor of disagreeable odour. As all Animals are subject to its peculiar kind of Lice – This had small red ones, which at a very warm season became troublesome to her. – And being deprived of a Thumb to pick with, She put her fingers frequently into these holes, and then rubed them over every part of his Body, by which means it is believed she got rid of her Vermin."
Specimen Type:
Dead/preserved
Peale's Common Name:
Coaita Monkey
Peale's Scientific Name:
Coaita Buf.; Simia paniscus, Lin.
Current Common Name:
Red-faced Spider Monkey
Current Scientific Name
Ateles paniscus
