Black Howler Monkey
Alouatta caraya
Class
Mammalia
Order
Primates
Family
Atelidae
Black Howler Monkey
Range
Eastern Bolivia, southern Brazil and Paraguay, and northern Argentina
Size
Body length: 15 - 28 in
Tail length: 20 - 30 in
Weight: 12 - 20 lbs
Habitat
Prefer tall, aged forests; occupy the middle and upper canopies of the trees
Young
1 - 2 (Usually 1)
Gestation: 180 - 194 days
Diet
Canopy leaves, fruits such as figs and plums, buds, flowers, and sometimes nuts
IUCN Status
Least Concern
Howler monkeys are the loudest primates in the Americas.
Males do most of the howling. They can be heard 1.8 miles away in the forest, and 3 miles away over water.
Anatomy of a Howl
The hyoid bone in their throat is modified and forms a bony box called a corniculum. The corniculum is an egg-shaped pouch that acts as an amplifying chamber, enabling these monkeys to out-howl all other land animals. They use loud howls, grunts, roars and barks to defend territory.
A Tale of Two Colors
Males and females are sexually dimorphic; adult males are black, adult females and juveniles are a golden tan color. They are arboreal, diurnal, and have a prehensile tail.
Social Structure
Troop sizes range from 3 to 19. Troops commonly have 1 to 3 adult males and 2 to 7 adult females.
Our Animals
Cody
Born January 31, 2005
Lola
Born April 1, 2002
Howie
Born May 13, 2020Howie is the son of Cody and Lola.
How You Can Help
The primary threat to black howler monkeys is habitat loss due to agricultural development. By making more sustainable choices, we can reduce our personal impact.
When you're shopping for food or other goods, look for products certified as sustainable, such as those from the Rainforest Alliance. These certifications ensure that the products are produced in a way that protects rainforest ecosystems.
