There are 8 or 9 main species and several subspecies within the genus Ateles. There are separate species of the related genus Brachyteles (woolly spider monkeys).

The current defined species are:

Red-faced spider monkey, Ateles paniscus

White-fronted spider monkey, Ateles belzebuth

Peruvian spider monkey, Ateles chamek

Brown spider monkey, Ateles hybridus

White-cheeked spider monkey, Ateles marginatus

Black-headed spider monkey, Ateles fusciceps

Brown-headed spider monkey, Ateles fusciceps fusciceps

Colombian spider monkey, Ateles fusciceps rufiventris

Geoffroy's spider monkey, Ateles geoffroyi

- Yucatan spider monkey, Ateles geoffroyi yucatanensis

- Mexican spider monkey, Ateles geoffroyi vellerosus

- Nicaraguan spider monkey, Ateles geoffroyi geoffroyi

- Ornate spider monkey, Ateles geoffroyi ornatus

There are several species and a few sub-species with similar names, including Geoffroyi's spider monkey. They are all of the genus Ateles. The similar species is the yellow-tailed woolly monkey (Oreonax flavicauda).

Species of spider monkeys include:

Red-faced spider monkey, Ateles paniscus

White-fronted spider monkey, Ateles belzebuth

Peruvian spider monkey, Ateles chamek

Brown spider monkey, Ateles hybridus

White-cheeked spider monkey, Ateles marginatus

Black-headed spider monkey, Ateles fusciceps

Brown-headed spider monkey, Ateles fusciceps fusciceps

Colombian spider monkey, Ateles fusciceps rufiventris

Geoffroy's spider monkey, Ateles geoffroyi

- Yucatan spider monkey, Ateles geoffroyi yucatanensis

- Mexican spider monkey, Ateles geoffroyi vellerosus

- Nicaraguan spider monkey, Ateles geoffroyi geoffroyi

- Ornate spider monkey, Ateles geoffroyi ornatus

There are 7 to 9 species of spider monkeys in the world, genus Ateles. The related genus is Brachyteles, the "woolly spider monkey" (also known as the Muriqui). There are 3 subspecies of the black-headed spider monkey and 4 additional subspecies within the species Geoffroyi.

Red-faced spider monkey, Ateles paniscus

White-fronted spider monkey, Ateles belzebuth

Peruvian spider monkey, Ateles chamek

Brown spider monkey, Ateles hybridus

White-cheeked spider monkey, Ateles marginatus

Black-headed spider monkey, Ateles fusciceps

Brown-headed spider monkey, Ateles fusciceps fusciceps

Colombian spider monkey, Ateles fusciceps rufiventris

Geoffroy's spider monkey, Ateles geoffroyi

- Yucatan spider monkey, Ateles geoffroyi yucatanensis

- Mexican spider monkey, Ateles geoffroyi vellerosus

- Nicaraguan spider monkey, Ateles geoffroyi geoffroyi

- Ornate spider monkey, Ateles geoffroyi ornatus

The most endangered spider monkeys are the black-headed spider monkey and the brown spider monkey.