Woolly monkey is a type of large monkey that lives in the Amazon River Basin of South America. Five species of woolly monkey exist.
Woolly monkeys have thick, soft, dark fur. They live in groups of about 5 to 40 individuals. They move through the trees, feeding mostly on fruit. Woolly monkeys spend most of their time sleeping, but they are playful when awake. They are known to greet each other by “kissing.”
Adult woolly monkeys weigh from about 10 to 25 pounds (4.5 to 11 kilograms). They measure from roughly 20 to more than 30 inches (50 to 75 centimeters) long, not including their 23- to 27-inch- (58- to 69-centimeter-) long tail, which can be used to grasp objects. The underside of the tail has no fur near the end. This area has ridges similar to human fingerprints and rough skin.
Woolly monkeys are threatened by the destruction of their rain forest home and by hunters who kill them for their meat. The yellow-tailed woolly monkey is extremely rare.
