What is a woolly spider monkey?

The woolly spider monkey is a rare primate found only in the Atlantic forests of southeastern Brazil. At 17 to 25 inches and 18 to 20 pounds, it is the largest monkey in the Americas.

Also known as "muriqui," the animals spend most of their time high in the forest canopy, using their grasping tails and long fingers to swing acrobatically. The species' diet mainly consists of flowers, fruit, seeds and leaves. Woolly spider monkeys live together in troops of five to 25 individuals, which often consist of an equal number of males and females. Destruction of their habitat and hunting by humans has led to their classification as critically endangered.