The howler in the forest

By Phyllis Sena

Nicknamed “Howlers”, Howler monkeys are famously known for their deafening calls that can be heard up to three miles (five kilometers) away in the jungles of Central and South America. A cacophony of loud cries can be heard during dusk and dawn in order to send a message to other monkeys that the territory is being occupied by their group. Howlers are also considered to be the loudest land mammal on Earth.
Howlers are considered New World monkeys, which are the only monkeys with prehensile tails unlike the Old World species of monkeys such as baboons and macaques. Most howler monkey species live in groups of 6 – 15 individuals, usually with one dominant male, a couple of other males, and multiple females for mating.

The red howler monkey species is the most common, but it is often targeted for bushmeat in South America. Some species are even considered to be critically endangered according to the 2000 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species , such as the Red-Handed Howler Monkey, the Azuero Howler Monkey, and the Northern Brown Howler Monkey.

 

Author: mongabay

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