How would you describe the locomotion of a spider monkey that uses all four limbs to move and occasionally hangs by its tail?

The locomotion described for a spider monkey using all four limbs and occasionally hanging by its tail accurately fits the concept of suspensory locomotion. This type of movement is characterized by an ability to hang from branches while using all four limbs and sometimes the tail for support.

Spider monkeys have long limbs and prehensile tails that enable them to navigate through the trees by suspending their bodies in the air as they move from branch to branch. The use of the tail not only assists in balance but also allows for greater mobility in the arboreal environment, where grasping and holding onto surfaces is essential for their survival and movement.

In contrast, terms like brachiation specifically refer to arm-swinging locomotion, which is not the primary mode for spider monkeys. Quadrupedalism would imply a movement style mainly using four limbs on the ground, which doesn't adequately describe the behavior seen in spider monkeys, as they predominantly move through the canopy. Vertical clinging pertains more to species that cling to a vertical surface, such as tree trunks, often interspersed with jumping, rather than using all limbs to navigate in a suspended manner.