The common woolly monkey, or Lagothrix lagothricha, can be found in the mountain forests, rain forests, and humid tropical forests of South America. Countries like Bolivia, Brazil, Columbia, Ecuador, Venezuela, and Peru are home to these “New World monkeys” that can be found living in groups, or “troops”, of up to fifty. Growing up to 28 in (72 cm, with tail) and weighing up to 20 lbs, they are larger in build than most other New World monkeys, and even have more prominent bellies than most. They have rounded heads, and their bodies are covered in short, thick hair. Woolly monkeys, although able to walk upright on the ground, are primarily arboreal, and spend most of their time up in the trees of their Amazonian habitat. For this reason, they have strong thumbs and toes, and a big, thick, strong prehensile tail that allows them to move on all fours and swing hand over hand with ease agility and ease, although they are not as graceful as say, spider monkeys, and are more likely to take the occasional tumble.

They have a fairly complex system of communicating with one another; a system that includes vocalization, olfactory sensing (communicating via scent), visual signals, and tactile sensing (communicating through touch). They use this system to communicate everything from affection, to territorial dominance. When it comes time to eat, they forage in the day light for plant materials and fruit, but are less active than other monkeys in their region. The young develop pretty fast, probably because they are born one at a time (instead of in litters), and they get all the attention, affection, and protection their mother has. They will cling to their mother’s fur for the first couple of weeks in the world, but will soon be found climbing, playing, and foraging like their older troop mates.