Why is a howler monkey called monkey?

Howler monkeys are called monkeys because they are primates belonging to the family Atelidae, which is within the infraorder Platyrrhini, commonly known as New World monkeys.

Here's a breakdown:

* Primate: This broad category includes all monkeys, apes, and lemurs.

* Atelidae: This family specifically includes howler monkeys, spider monkeys, woolly monkeys, and muriquis.

* Platyrrhini: This infraorder encompasses all monkeys native to the Americas (New World monkeys), including Atelidae.

So, while howler monkeys have unique characteristics like their loud howls and prehensile tails, they ultimately fall under the broad classification of monkeys due to their shared evolutionary lineage and primate features.