Facts About Howler Monkeys

Top Facts About Howler Monkeys

1. Howler monkeys live in Central and South America. This makes them New World monkeys. An example of an Old World monkey is a baboon from Africa.
2. Howler monkeys are loud. Really, really loud. They are the loudest land animal on earth. Howler monkeys howl in the early morning and evenings as a way to inform other monkeys that they are there, that they are awesome, and that they will defend their territory. They can be heard miles away. They also howl at other times of the day.
3. Howler monkeys, like most other New World monkeys, have a prehensile tail. That is a fancy way to say that their tail can grip branches, hold items, and generally function as a fifth limb. No Old World monkeys have a prehensile tail.
4. Howler monkeys live in the treetops and rarely come to the ground. They don't need to since they obtain most of he water they need from the leaves and fruit they eat. They sometimes find stored water high up in the trees that they can drink also. They will come to the ground for water during dry spells.
5. Howler monkeys live in troops of 15-20 monkeys. The troop is led by an experienced male and contains a variety of males, females, and young. The leader is usually the biggest male. He gets his choice of everything, from food to mates.
6. Howler monkeys groom each others fur. Usually the females groom their offspring's fur, as well as the fur of other relatives. While this grooming is important to get rid of stray bark, insects, etc, the animals also enjoy the attention from each other. It is kind of like a person getting a massage. It is a soothing interaction.
7. Howler monkeys do not live in a specific place. They are constantly moving, albeit slowly, to new territory. They forage for tender leaves, and then move onto a new area.
8. Howler monkeys are the largest monkeys in the New World. They stand about 2 feet high. Old World monkeys are larger, but howler monkeys like Harold will tell you that size doesn't matter!