Head to head
Muriqui vs Woolly Monkey
The muriqui is sometimes called the "woolly spider monkey," a name that invites confusion with the true woolly monkey, but the two are distinct species with different builds, habitats, and conservation outlooks.
| Muriqui | Woolly Monkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Brachyteles (genus) | Lagothrix lagotricha |
| Also known as | Woolly spider monkey | Not called a spider monkey |
| Size | The largest primate in the Americas | Large, but smaller than the muriqui |
| Build | Long-limbed, spider-monkey-like build | Stocky, muscular, densely furred build |
| Social structure | Large mixed groups, minimal aggression | Large mixed-sex social groups, cooperative foraging |
| Native range | Brazil's Atlantic Forest only | Amazon and Orinoco basins |
| Diet | Herbivore, leaves, fruit, flowers, and seeds | Herbivore, mainly ripe fruit |
| Conservation status | Critically Endangered | Vulnerable |
Muriqui vs Woolly Monkey: common questions
Is the muriqui the same thing as a woolly monkey?
No, despite the muriqui's nickname "woolly spider monkey," it is a distinct species from the true woolly monkey, with a longer-limbed, spider-monkey-like build and a far more restricted range confined to Brazil's Atlantic Forest.
Which is bigger, the muriqui or the woolly monkey?
The muriqui, which is the largest primate found anywhere in the Americas, surpassing the woolly monkey, itself a large but comparatively smaller and stockier species.
Which is more endangered, the muriqui or the woolly monkey?
The muriqui, which is Critically Endangered and confined to small surviving patches of forest, faces a more urgent threat level than the woolly monkey, which is classified as Vulnerable.