Mantled Howler Monkeys (Alouatta palliata)

The Mantled Howler Monkey is the King of the Jungle in Central America. The booming voices of the males can be heard for miles as they tell other troops of monkeys to stay out of their territory.

Howler monkeys are friendly with each other, hanging out in big social groups, usually with 10-18 monkeys. They are herbivores, meaning they eat plants, both leaves and fruits.

Male howler monkeys are the loudest animals in the rainforest. An adult male has a big saggy chin that functions as a "resonating" chamber so he can howl. The howls can be heard for several miles in the rainforest, and allow the monkeys from one group to communicate with other groups. They communicate to defend their territories, telling other monkey groups not to come there because it is where they live.

Try to count how many monkeys are in the picture to the left. There's a mother with her baby, and another mother with her baby. Four monkeys on the same branch. If you look at the top mother's right hand, you can see the little baby's hand too. Baby howler monkeys travel around on their mother's stomach or back for several months after they are born. However, the baby monkey on the right has decided to explore the forest canopy. The mother makes sure to stay nearby to warn the baby if a Harpy Eagle or other type of predator enters the area.

For comparison, check out the White-faced Monkey.

National Geographic has a short video on YouTube with more info about Howler Monkeys.