Muriqui

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Muriquis

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Primates
Family:	Atelidae
Subfamily:	Atelinae
Genus:	Brachyteles Spix, 1823

Type species

Ateles arachnoides
É. Geoffroy, 1806

Species

Brachyteles arachnoides
Brachyteles hypoxanthus

The muriquis, also known as woolly spider monkeys, are the monkeys of the genus Brachyteles. They are closely related to both 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.

The woolly spider monkeys are 15-23 inches long without its tail and weigh from 10-20 pounds. They range in coloration from brown to black and the underside of their tails has no fur at the end.

Muriquis 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 platyrrhinies, 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 approximately 'largest monkey'. The arachnoides species is also known as "mono carvoeiro", which translates to "Charcoal Monkey".

Southern Muriqui, Brachyteles arachnoides
Northern Muriqui, Brachyteles hypoxanthus

[edit] References

Groves, Colin (16 November 2005). in Wilson, D. E., and Reeder, D. M. (eds): Mammal Species of the World, 3rd edition, Johns Hopkins University Press, 151. ISBN 0-801-88221-4.