Howler monkey
genus of mammals
Howler monkeys, genus Alouatta, are one of the largest New World monkeys. There are 15 species. They are native to South and Central American forests.[1]
| Howler monkey | |
|---|---|
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| Brown howler | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Subfamily: | Alouattinae
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| Genus: | Alouatta
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| Type species | |
| Simia belzebul Linnaeus, 1766
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| Howler monkey distribution | |
These monkeys are famous for their loud howls, which can travel three miles (4.8 km) through dense forest.[2] They are the loudest monkey and may be the loudest land animal. Group males call at dawn and dusk, and at times during the day. The function of howling may relate to intergroup spacing and territory protection.
These social primates live high in the trees (the canopy) of the rain forests of Central America, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Brazil, northern Argentina, and Bolivia. Howlers have a life span of about 20 years. They are in decline due to a loss of habitat.
References
change- ↑ Groves C.P; Wilson D.E. & Reeder D.M. (eds) 2005. Mammal species of the world. 3rd ed, Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, pp. 148–152. ISBN 0-801-88221-4
- ↑ "Dunn, Terry at Smithsonian National Zoological Park". Archived from the original on 2009-04-25. Retrieved 2015-04-09.
