Ajax: The Definitive Guide

Colophon

The animal on the cover of Ajax: The Definitive Guide is a woolly monkey (Lagothrix lagotricha, Oreonoax flavicauda). Woolly monkeys inhabit the rain forests in the upper and middle areas of the Amazon basin west of the Negro and Tapajos rivers. They spend most of their time high in the tree canopy, rarely making their way to the forest floor. They are able to easily jump across wide gaps between trees; to navigate narrow limbs to access nuts, fruits, and seedpods; and even to sleep securely 150 feet above ground.

Adult woolly monkeys are 20-24 inches tall and weigh 13-17 pounds. Their features include black, hairless faces, extremely long limbs, and opposable big toes. They have forward-facing eyes, which provide them with the stereoscopic vision necessary for judging depth and distance as they travel through the treetops. They are also sensitive to the color green, a fact that helps them distinguish the various shades found in their jungle habitat. As their name suggests, woolly monkeys are covered with dense, pale gray-brown fur; this thick coat protects them from the elements and insect bites. Each hair is striped with white, which reflects the surrounding jungle colors and helps camouflage them against predators such as eagles, jaguars, and humans. Their most distinctive feature is their long, prehensile tail, which can support the full weight of the monkey as it hangs from tree limbs to rest or collect food. The tail can actually grasp objects as well, and woolly monkeys ...