The Southern Muriqui, Brachyteles Arachnoides: Ecology of a Population in a Semideciduous Forest Fragment

Southern muriquis (Brachyteles arachnoides) inhabit evergreen and semideciduous forest fragments in southeastern Brazil. Contrary to the broadleaf evergreen forests, the seasonal mesophytic forests experience a relatively severe dry season, which aff ects the muriquis’ diet. Th rough behavioral sampling of feeding activity, I determined the diet of a group of muriquis in a semideciduous forest fragment. Leaves represented 55.3% of feeding records, fl owers 16.1%, fruits 12.1%, and seeds 16.5%. Muriquis included 47 plant species in their diet. Leaf consumption was signifi cantly higher in the dry season, but there was no evident diff erence between seasons in their feeding on either fl owers, fruits, or seeds. Muriquis in this study shared only 11 taxa with groups in evergreen forests. Th e study group made consistent use of immature seeds. Dietary fl exibility and the consumption of alternative resources may likely be advantageous where there are repeated lean periods and anthropogenic interference.