Brachyteles arachnoides
Brachyteles hypoxanthus
Woolly spider monkeys, or muriqui, are the monkeys of the genus Brachyteles, which is closely related to the spider monkeys and the woolly monkeys. There are two species, the Southern (B. arachnoides) and Northern Muriqui (B. hypoxanthus). They are the two largest species of New World monkeys, and the northern species is one of the most endangered of all the world's monkeys. They are found only in the Atlantic coast forests of southeastern Brazil at altitudes ranging from sea level to 1500 m.
Muriqui are folivores, but will also eat significant amounts of fruit and flowers in the rainy season, as well as bark, bamboo, ferns, nectar, pollen, and seeds.
As is common to many Platyrrhini, males are philopatric and females tend to move out into other groups at the onset of adolescence around 5 - 7 years of age, later reaching maturity at an average age of 11 years. On average males reach maturity in half this time.
Observed group sizes range from 8 to 43, and contain plentiful amounts of both males and females. Muriqui are polygamous, and unlike many other primates males spend large periods of time together without significant aggressive encounters. As such, they are also not territorial.
The name Muriqui comes from a native Tupi word meaning something like 'largest monkey'. The arachnoides species are also known as Omono Carvoeiro, which translates to Charcoal Monkey.
- Southern Muriqui , Brachyteles arachnoides
- Northern Muriqui , Brachyteles hypoxanthus
