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Black howler monkey

Alouatta caraya

Female Millie and son Diego, howler monkeys at Paignton Zoo
IUCN Conservation Status –
Least Concern
Extinct In The Wild
Class: Mammals
Order: Primates
Family: Atelidae

Howler monkeys live in the forests of central South America. Males have black fur while females and youngsters are more sandy in colour.

They consume mostly leaves, and like to live in areas that have a high variety of different plant species.

Interesting facts!

  • Howler monkeys are known for emitting the loudest call of all primates, which they do through a special, egg-shaped hyoid bone.
  • Black howler monkeys are the largest monkeys in Latin American rainforests. Males are much larger than females.

Conservation

These primates are widely distributed, but it thought that their numbers are decreasing, due to threats of hunting and fragmentation of their natural habitat.