The Howler Monkey
- class: Mammalia
- order: Primates
- family: Cebidae
- species: Aloutta
palliata
The howler monkey is almost completely tree dwelling and is active during the day. It forages through the treetops for fruit and leaves. It usually lives in mixed-age and sex groups of up to 20 monkeys, which have one dominant male and a small number of younger males. The group territory is maintained by load roaring early each morning, with occasional roars and barks throughout the day. The monkeys may also continue to call throughout the night, and can be heard up to two miles away, even in the densest forest.
Howler monkeys, are thought to breed throughout the year, with a peak around May and June. Gestation is 140 days, after which time the female will nurse and carry the young for up to two years. The monkeys can live for up to 16 years.
The howler monkey is one of the largest South American monkeys. The male black howler has a long, soft coat of black fur, which is longest on the throat, where it conceals the monkey's large vocal organ. The female is smaller and brown. The legs and arms are long. As with other howlers, they have powerful prehensile tails that they use extensively in their locomotion and feeding. Length of head and body: 32 to 36 inches; length of length of tail 32 to 36 inches. Males commonly weigh 20 pounds, and females weigh 10 pounds.
- distribution: Southern Mexico to northwestern South America
- habitat: Tropical Forests
- biome: Rain forest
- male body length: 3 ft.
- male tail length: 3 ft.
- male weight: 20 lbs.
- female weight: 9.9 lbs.
- offspring per conception: 1
- gestation period: 20 wk
- time to sexual maturity: 2
yrs.
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