Class: Mammalia

Order: Primates

Scientific Name: Alouatta caraya

Range: Central South America south of the Amazon basin

Habitat: Tropical rainforests

Diet: Wild: Leaves, flowers, fruits, maggots Zoo: Yams, carrots, oranges, bananas, grapes, endive, monkey chow, apricot nectar, yogurt

Gestation: 180 to 195 days

Litter: 1

Description: Male and female black howler monkeys are colored quite differently. Mature males are black, while the young and females are blond. (This difference between male and female is called sexual dimorphism.) Males are also larger than females, weighing about 16.5 lbs. as opposed to females at 12.5 lbs. Howlers have greatly enlarged lower jaws which accommodate egg-shaped resonating chambers. These chambers enable howlers to make their unique reverberating calls. The calls warn nearby troops to keep away from feeding areas. Howlers have prehensile tails which are used mostly for balance or a sense of security. Howler monkeys are slow moving, thus easily falling prey to humans, where they are hunted for meat. Most of their time is spent in trees. They live in groups of from 8 to 20, with females outnumbering males. There is one dominant male per group.

Where in the Zoo? I can be found in the New World Monkey Exhibits at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.