CR

Lagothrix flavicauda

Declining

Overview

The yellow-tailed woolly monkey is a species of New World monkey endemic to Peru. This rare primate is found only in the Peruvian Andes, primarily within the departments of Amazonas and San Martín, as well as in adjacent areas of La Libertad, Huánuco, and Loreto.

The Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkey faces severe population decline primarily due to extensive deforestation for agriculture and cattle ranching throughout its limited Andean cloud forest range. Hunting pressure for bushmeat and the illegal pet trade compounds habitat destruction, while the species' slow reproductive rate and small remaining population fragments make recovery extremely challenging. Road construction and mining activities continue to fragment the already restricted montane forests, isolating populations and reducing genetic diversity.

Threat summary

Habitat

Endemic to the cloud forests of the northern Peruvian Andes, this primate inhabits montane rainforests between 1,500-2,700 meters elevation. The species requires continuous canopy cover in humid cloud forest environments with abundant epiphytes and fruiting trees.

Forest· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical moist montane· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionResource & habitat protectionSpecies recoveryAwareness & communicationsLegislationCompliance and enforcement

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Lagothrix flavicauda classified as Critically Endangered?
Lagothrix flavicauda is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkey faces severe population decline primarily due to extensive deforestation for agriculture and cattle ranching throughout its limited Andean cloud forest range. Hunting pressure for bushmeat and the illegal pet trade compounds habitat destruction, while the species' slow reproductive rate and small remaining population fragments make recovery extremely challenging. Road construction and mining activities continue to fragment the already restricted montane forests, isolating populations and reducing genetic diversity.
Where does Lagothrix flavicauda live?
Lagothrix flavicauda occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Lagothrix flavicauda?
The main threats to Lagothrix flavicauda are 1.1, 2.1, 3.2, and 4.1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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