atelike

Atelike is an adjective used in zoological and comparative contexts to denote resemblance to the genus Ateles, the spider monkeys. The term is formed from the proper noun Ateles plus the suffix -like, and it appears mainly in descriptive or scholarly writing rather than in general language.

The genus Ateles comprises several species of New World primates known for their long limbs, powerful suspensory locomotion, and, in many species, a reduced or absent opposable thumb. A tailsaurus? No. In this context, atelike describes traits such as elongated limbs, a highly prehensile tail, or other limb proportions and locomotor adaptations that resemble those typical of Ateles.

In practice, atelike may be used in morphological descriptions, comparative anatomy, or paleontological discussions to convey that a non-Ateles specimen or fossil displays similarities in form or locomotor capability to spider monkeys. It is not a broad or frequently used term outside specialized discourse, and it should not be confused with more general descriptors of locomotion or arboreal adaptation.

Etymology and usage notes: ateles stems from Greek, with the sense of “incomplete” or “imperfect,” historically tied to particular features of the animals in question. The adjective atelike simply signals resemblance to those primates rather than indicating taxonomic identity.

See also: Ateles, spider monkey, primate locomotion, prehensile tail, brachiation.