Adults weigh between 4-7kg, depending on sex. They are predominantly black with lighter coloring on their sides and mid-riff. Males have a very distinctive white scrotum which enables easy identification of the species! They have a fur-less face and a patch near the tip of their prehensile tail that is also fur-less and aids their movement through the trees.
Howler Monkey
Taxonomy: (Alouatta palliata)
Spanish Name: Mono congo
Conservation Status: Least concern (however this was last assessed in 2008)
Lifespan: 7-12 years with females living considerably longer than their male counterparts.
Distribution: Can be found throughout Central America and in northern parts of Colombia and Ecuador.
Behavior: Can be found throughout Central America and in northern parts of Colombia and Ecuador.
Diet: Will eat almost exclusively in the canopies, grazing on leaves, fruits and flowers. They prefer the young leaves which have lower tannins and higher fiber to protein ratio.
Reproduction: Females become sexually mature at around 36 months and males at around 42 months.
Threats: Hunting, habitat loss and the illegal pet trade.
At Alturas:
Roo is our most recent sanctuary resident and was attacked by capuchins when she was a baby, resulting in her leg having to be amputated. You can see her on one of our four tours a day from Tuesday-Sunday.
Howler monkeys are one of the most common primate species we receive at Alturas, and can be brought to us for a range of reasons from attacks by other monkeys to road traffic accidents.
