They have been claimed to possess the most diverse fruit diet in the Atlantic, and also consume leaves, flowers and a few species of seeds (such as sapucaia, amexia-bicha, Inga, Bicuiba and jatobá).

[12][clarification needed] Muriquis play a major role in seed dispersal and are known to provide complementary foraging opportunities for tapirs.

[13] Like chimpanzees, male southern muriquis are philopatric, while females immigrate to spread genetic diversity and avoid incestuous breeding with their relatives.

They preferentially eat fruit, flowers, and buds and rely on tree bark and leaves as fallback food.

The latter is located 80 km from the only long-term investigation of the southern muriqui in continuous forest, the Carlos Botelho State Park.