Brown Woolly Monkey
Lagothrix lagothricha
Geographic Distribution and Habitat
Deep in South America, in the upper Amazon basin, brown woolly monkeys (Lagothrix lagotricha) spend their days exploring among the trees. Also known as the common woolly monkey or Homboldt’s woolly monkey, from Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia on the east into parts of Brazil and up to Venezuela, these tree-dwelling monkeys prefer to live in lowland, primary forests. However, they can also be found in a variety of other types of forests, including cloud forests, and may even venture into flooded forests during the rainy season to feed on fruits. Because of their fairly large range of habitats, they live among a number of other primate species, even traveling and foraging with spider monkeys—a monkey from the same subfamily of New World monkeys, called Atelinae.
Deep in South America, in the upper Amazon basin, brown woolly monkeys (Lagothrix lagotricha) spend their days exploring among the trees. Also known as the common woolly monkey or Homboldt’s woolly monkey, from Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia on the east into parts of Brazil and up to Venezuela, these tree-dwelling monkeys prefer to live in lowland, primary forests. However, they can also be found in a variety of other types of forests, including cloud forests, and may even venture into flooded forests during the rainy season to feed on fruits. Because of their fairly large range of habitats, they live among a number of other primate species, even traveling and foraging with spider monkeys—a monkey from the same subfamily of New World monkeys, called Atelinae.
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Woolly Monkey Taxonomy Controversy: Species vs Subspecies
July 2020: Some scientists recognize the silvery woolly monkey (Lagothrix poeppigii), the gray woolly monkey (L. cana), and the Colombian woolly monkey (L. lugens) each as distinct species, sharing the genus Lagothrix. Per a March 2020 report found in the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, recent genetic studies have provided support for there only being only two woolly monkey species: the brown (or common) woolly monkey (Lagothrix lagothricha) and the Peruvian yellow-tailed woolly monkey (Lagothrix flavicauda). In this scenario, silvery, gray, and Colombian woolly monkeys are subspecies of the brown woolly monkey (Lagothrix lagothricha). This modifies their scientific names to Lagothrix lagothricha ssp. cana for the gray woolly, Lagothrix lagothricha ssp. lugens for the Colombian woolly, and Lagothrix lagothricha ssp. poeppigii for the silvery woolly. There is also a fourth potential subspecies of the brown woolly, Lagothrix lagothricha ssp. tschudii, Tschudi’s woolly monkey. (Very little is know about this fourth subspecies.) The truth is that the woolly monkeys don't care what we call them. They would certainly prefer that we leave them and their habitats alone and allow them to quietly live their lives. But we hope to ally any confusion you might encounter in your reading should you come upon conflicting scientific names, terminology, and taxonomy. |
Brown woolly monkey geographic range map credit: IUCN, 2020 (click to enlarge)
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Size, Weight, and Lifespan Considering that they spend their days among the trees, brown woolly monkeys are rather large in size. They range in length from about 15.75 in to 23.6 in (40-60 cm), with a tail that adds another 21.6-30 in (55-75 cm). They weigh around 12-24 lb (5.5-10.8 kg), with males being larger than females, and live an average lifespan of 24-30 years. Appearance
Brown woolly monkeys earn their name from their thick, woolly hair, which ranges in color from shades of dark gray and brown to black. Their faces have no fur and are typically solid black. Although larger in size for a tree-dwelling monkey, they move easily among the trees because of their long limbs and prehensile tail. Near the tip of their tail, there is a bare patch with no fur, which helps them to grip better. 
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What Does It Mean?Lowland forest:
An equatorial evergreen rainforest, commonly known as a tropical rainforest, which receives high rainfall (80 in, or 2 m) throughout the year. New World monkey: New World monkeys are native to Central and South America, whereas Old World monkeys are native to Africa and Asia. Omnivors: Species that eat both plants and animals. From the Latin root omni, meaning “all” or “of all things.” Prehensile tail: The tail of an animal that has adapted to be able to grasp or hold objects. |
Diet
Brown woolly monkeys primarily eat fruit, but are considered omnivores. Seeds, leaves, flowers, insects, or small rodents may be the chosen snack for these New World monkeys during times of the year when fruit is less abundant.
Brown woolly monkeys primarily eat fruit, but are considered omnivores. Seeds, leaves, flowers, insects, or small rodents may be the chosen snack for these New World monkeys during times of the year when fruit is less abundant.
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Behavior and Lifestyle
As mentioned, these monkeys spend the majority of their time in the trees. They are known for having daily rests in the middle of the day, a nice nap-time if you will, and will also venture down from the trees to the ground level to explore. When on the ground, they may walk upright, using their arms and tail for balance. Daily Life and Group Dynamics
Brown woolly monkeys enjoy spending time together in groups of about 20 to 70 individuals. They sleep in the topmost layer of the forest. As a group, they enjoy grooming each other; typically, the adolescents will groom the adults. They also love to play, occasionally chasing and wrestling one another. |
Fun FactsThe brown woolly monkey is one of the largest New World monkeys by weight. Brown woolly monkeys can walk bipedally using their long arms and tail for balance. |
Communication
Communication is key, and these monkeys have many ways of communicating. They show a change of mood through their facial expressions, and sound loud calls made up of barks and screams to alarm the troop. The dominant male will rub his chest to the ground of a new territory after first licking it with his saliva for scent marking. They have two main types of contact calls to one another—long-distance and medium-distance calls—so they can separate during the day and still be in contact with one another.
Communication is key, and these monkeys have many ways of communicating. They show a change of mood through their facial expressions, and sound loud calls made up of barks and screams to alarm the troop. The dominant male will rub his chest to the ground of a new territory after first licking it with his saliva for scent marking. They have two main types of contact calls to one another—long-distance and medium-distance calls—so they can separate during the day and still be in contact with one another.
Reproduction and Family
Although copulation may occur year round, birth patterns occur in correspondence with the wet season and early dry season for resource availability. Because of this, most births occur between August and December. Females will typically give birth to a single offspring, with gestation being between 7 and 7.5 months. The baby will stay under mom’s guidance for 9 to 12 months, first being carried on mom’s chest and then moving to her back once older. The male will take care of the mother and baby for the first few weeks after birth by carrying infants on his back and engaging in play, and then gradually separate himself from the care. He has now proved himself to be a responsible and caring guardian, which in turn will help him gain support of the females and boost his social standings. Sexual maturity is reached between five to eight years of age.
Although copulation may occur year round, birth patterns occur in correspondence with the wet season and early dry season for resource availability. Because of this, most births occur between August and December. Females will typically give birth to a single offspring, with gestation being between 7 and 7.5 months. The baby will stay under mom’s guidance for 9 to 12 months, first being carried on mom’s chest and then moving to her back once older. The male will take care of the mother and baby for the first few weeks after birth by carrying infants on his back and engaging in play, and then gradually separate himself from the care. He has now proved himself to be a responsible and caring guardian, which in turn will help him gain support of the females and boost his social standings. Sexual maturity is reached between five to eight years of age.
Ecological Role
As with many omnivores, because their diet consists largely of fruits, brown woolly monkeys play a large role in the seed dispersal of the area. Seeds consumed tend to be dispersed 0.9 miles (1.5 km) from the crown of the parent tree.
As with many omnivores, because their diet consists largely of fruits, brown woolly monkeys play a large role in the seed dispersal of the area. Seeds consumed tend to be dispersed 0.9 miles (1.5 km) from the crown of the parent tree.
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Conservation Status and Threats
The brown woolly monkey is classified as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, appearing on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN, 2020). They are considered Vulnerable by the IUCN because there is large reason to believe the species will decline by at least 30% over the next three generations. This is largely due to hunting for their meat, their pelts, and the pet trade, as well as habitat loss. While the young are sought after for the pet trade, the mothers are often killed in the process. Brown woolly monkeys have intense difficulty maintaining stable populations under the pressure of hunting and are very sensitive to disturbances in vegetation. Their low reproductive rate in these instances is a large factor in making them vulnerable to local extinction.
Conservation Efforts
They are listed on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), ensuring that trade must be controlled. They also live in a number of protected areas. |
References:
- https://www.arkive.org/common-woolly-monkey/lagothrix-lagotricha/
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/11175/0
- http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/factsheets/entry/woolly_monkey
- http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Lagothrix_lagotricha/
- https://a-z-animals.com/animals/woolly-monkey/
- http://www.theprimata.com/lagothrix_lagotricha.html
- https://www.monkeysanctuary.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/What-is-a-Woolly-Monkey.pdf
Written by Ally Fraser, July 2018
