Five Limbs, Five Facts:
Red howler monkeys live across South America in rainforests, deciduous woodlands and mangrove swamps. These New World monkeys (monkeys that live in North and South America) live for around 18 years. Unlike humans, red howlers frown when happy and smile when upset. Like some other monkeys, red howlers have a prehensile tail which they use as a fifth limb.
Hungry Howlers:
Red howlers are equipped with large jaws that help chew leaves, which are 60% of a howler’s diet. As leaves are low in energy and nutrition, these monkeys spend most of their time high up in the canopy where the most nutritious leaves are. However, they also eat flowers and fruits. They are definitely not picky eaters, having been seen eating 195 different species of plant.
Group and Troop Life:
Containing 2-13 members, a group of red howlers is called a troop. Troops spend most of their time maintaining social bonds, mostly by grooming each other. All females help care for the infants.
Loud Borders:
As red howlers have large jaws and hyoid bones, the bone that all tongue and throat muscles connect to, their roar can be heard up to 3-5 km away. This makes them the loudest land animal. They use this roar to mark their territory and confirm the position of other troops who howl in response.
Watch the video below to hear the roar, not howl, of the red howler monkeys!
Red Alert:
Despite being listed as Least Concern at the moment, these incredible red howlers are at risk from hunting and deforestation.