HOWLER MONKEY

Alouatta caraya

ORDER

Primates

FAMILY

Atelidae

HABITAT AND RANGE

Howler monkeys are New World monkeys found in Central and South America. They range through eastern Bolivia, southern Brazil and Paraguay, and northern Argentina.

IDENTIFICATION

Perhaps the most noticeable feature of the howler monkey is the loud noise they make at dawn or dusk. This howl can be heard up to 3 miles away. Male howler monkeys have large throats and a specialized vocal chamber that helps them to make their loud calls. They are the biggest of all the New World monkeys. Unlike Old World monkeys, howlers and other New World species have wide, side-opening nostrils and no pads on their rumps. Howlers also have a prehensile tail that they use to hold onto branches.

DIET

Howler monkeys are folivores, meaning that they eat leaves. They are the only folivores of the New World monkeys, with leaves making up to 76% of their diet. They also enjoy figs and other fruit and will occasionally eat flowers and buds.

REPRODUCTION AND LIFESPAN

In these monkeys, sexual maturity is achieved at five years by males, and at 3-4 years for females. But often the young animals lack the social maturity to be allowed to mate for several more years. Gestation is 180-194 days and single births are usual. They baby clings to its mother’s fur, and as it gets older it makes its permanent riding positions on the mother’s back. This continues for about a year. Older males sometimes kill the young. The average life span is about 16 years.

NOTES

Howler monkeys are the loudest land animal. The angle of their lower jaws makes it possible for the animals to produce their remarkable loud resonant sounds. The loud and persistent calls have been heard by people almost two miles away through jungle growth and over three miles away across lakes.