Top 5 Things You Didn’t Know About the Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkey
The yellow-tailed woolly monkey was once considered extinct. The species was first discovered in northern Peru in 1820; however, between 1926 and 1973, not a single yellow-tailed woolly monkey was sighted, causing scientists to deem the animal extinct. Then in 1974 primatologist Russ Mittermeier rediscovered small groups of the monkey in the highlands of Peru. Still, the yellow-tailed woolly monkey is still considered one of the rarest mammals in the world. (Eco-Mothering was able to adopt one! See the video at the end of this post.) They are named for a distinct yellow stripe of fur. It runs along the underside of their tails and is what separates them from other species of woolly monkeys. Their fully prehensile tail is used as a fifth limb for climbing, eating and leaping (up to distances of 15 meters). They are a male-dominated society. They usually live in groups of 4 to 30 … Continue reading
