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    Brachyteles – Muriqui

    Forget the image of monkeys swinging through trees with their tails; they have a more unusual mode of locomotion – brachiation

    Muriquis are notable for their long limbs and prehensile tails, which effectively serve as a fifth limb. These adaptations allow them to swing gracefully from tree to tree, a movement known as brachiation. The body of a muriqui can be quite large, with males often weighing up to 15 kilograms (33 pounds), making them the heaviest of the New World monkeys. Their fur is thick and woolly, typically a shade of brown or gray, which helps camouflage them in the dense forest canopies where they reside.

    One of the most intriguing aspects of muriquis is their social structure and behavior. They are known for their peaceful disposition, earning them the nickname “hippie monkeys.” Muriquis demonstrate low levels of aggression and high levels of social cohesion within their groups, which can include as many as 80 individuals. Their social interactions are characterized by a lack of a rigid dominance hierarchy, which is unusual among large primates. Instead, muriquis maintain harmony through affiliative behaviors such as grooming and close physical contact, which strengthens social bonds.

    Muriquis are primarily folivorous, meaning their diet consists mostly of leaves, supplemented by fruits, flowers, and bark. This diet requires a complex digestive system capable of breaking down fibrous plant material, which is facilitated by their enlarged, complex stomachs. Their ability to digest a high-leaf diet allows them to exploit food resources that are not accessible to many other animals, reducing competition for food.

    Reproductively, muriquis are noteworthy for their low reproductive rates, which have implications for their conservation. Females typically give birth to one offspring every two to three years following a gestation period of about seven months. Infant muriquis are highly dependent on their mothers and benefit from the protection and care within their tight-knit groups. In some cases, other females in the group may assist the mother, a behavior known as allomaternal care.