Facts About the Black Howler Monkey

Black howler monkeys get their name from the noisy howl they typically make. People and other animals can hear howler monkeys up to three miles away. They are the largest monkeys in the Latin America rainforest and typically spend the day hanging in trees. Black howler monkeys generally live more than 20 years.

  1. Description

    • Howler monkeys are 2 to 4 feet in height and may weigh 8 to 22 pounds. The female black howler monkey is brown or blond, while the male is black. Females usually weigh about 5 pounds less than the males. Additionally, this type of monkey has naked face, and a large neck and lower jaw to house its oversized vocal cords.

    Habitat

    • Howler monkeys dwell in the rainforest in South America. However, black howler monkeys live in northern Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil and Bolivia. However, people in the United States can see black howler monkeys in local zoos. Howler monkeys live in troops of three to 30. Additionally, they sleep and play in the treetops where younger, greener leaves grow. The animals spend most of their lives, up to 75 percent of the time, resting.

    Food

    • Black howler monkeys eat plenty of leaves. However, this type of monkey also eats figs, various fruits, and parts of plants and trees. When black howler monkeys live in a zoo, zookeepers usually feed them fresh leaves, nuts, sunflower seeds, vegetables and granary breads.

    Reason for the Howl

    • Black howler monkeys howl to let other troops know their location and to communicate with one another. The monkeys typically howl everyday. However, if they live in an area that is not heavily populated with other troops of black howler monkeys, they may howl only a few times a week. In addition, males generally howl louder than females.