Woolly Monkeys

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Woolly Monkeys, a group of New World monkeys in the Family Atelidae, get their name based on their coarse fur.

The name usually refers to the fours species of the genus Lagothrix, although it also applies to the endangered Peruvian Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkey (Oreonax flavicauda) and Woolly Spider Monkey (Brachyteles arachnoides).

They rank among the largest of the New World Monkeys with males averaging about two feet in length, and weighing between fifteen to twenty pounds. Females are smaller. The picture highlights the animal's round face.

Their range is limited to the forested areas of Columbia, Ecuador, Peru and Brazil, and their prehensile tails help them maneuver among tree branches.

Diet varieties from species to species and geographical region. However, they subsist primarily on a diet of fruit and plant material.

Habitat loss along with hunting are recognized as the primary threats to Lagothrix species.

© 2010 Patricia A. Michaels.