![A Picture of a Howler Monkey](https://www.factsjustforkids.com/wp-content/uploads/a-howler-monkey.png)
- Name: Howler Monkey
- Genus: Alouatta
- Type Species: Simia belzebul
- Total Species: 15
- Lifespan: 15 to 20 years (wild)
- Diet: Omnivorous (plants and animal matter)
- Range: South and Central America
18 Howler Monkey Facts for Kids
- The howler monkey is a common name for fifteen species of monkeys that are members of the genus Alouatta in the subfamily Alouatta.
- The color of a howler monkey varies by species, including but not limited to black, brown, tan and orange.
- Howler monkeys are classified as New World monkeys.
- Howler monkeys are native to South and Central America.
- Howler monkeys are technically omnivores because they will occasionally eat eggs from a bird’s nest.
- A howler monkey can live between 15 and 30 years in the wild.
- A howler monkeys’ tail is extremely long, and in some situations, it can be up to five times their body length.
- Howler monkeys have an amazing sense of smell and can detect food over a mile away.
- Howler monkeys can be found living in groups with six to 15 different individuals. These groups usually contain one to three males with the rest being females or offspring.
- Howler monkeys are known for their vocal forms of communication.
- You can hear howler monkeys vocalizing up to three miles away.
- The hyoid bone of a howler monkey is what gives them the ability to make these loud vocalizations.
- The black howler (Alouatta caraya) monkey can spend up to 70% of its day sleeping.
- The Guatemalan black howler (Alouatta pigra) is the largest howler monkey species and it’s one of the largest monkeys classified as a New World monkey.
- The Venezuelan red howler (Alouatta seniculus) monkey was the first howler monkey observed to apparently use a tool. In 1997, it was observed using a stick to attack a Linnaeus’s two-toed sloth that was in its tree.
- The mantled howler (Alouatta palliata) monkey lives in groups much larger than other howler monkey species. There have been reports of groups with over 40 individuals in it.
- There are several species of howler monkeys that are critically endangered, including the Azuero howler (Alouatta coibensis trabeata) and the Mexican howler (Alouatta palliata mexicana).
- Human actions are threatening many species of howler monkeys due to hunting, habitat destruction and for use as pets or in zoos.
Howler Monkey Pictures
![A picture of a baby howler monkey in a tree](https://www.factsjustforkids.com/wp-content/uploads/a-baby-howler-monkey-in-a-tree.png)
A picture of a very young howler monkey in a tree.Credit: Ghetty Images
![A picture of a mantled howler (alouatta seniculus)](https://www.factsjustforkids.com/wp-content/uploads/mantled-howler-alouatta-seniculus.png)
A picture of a mantled howler (alouatta seniculus).Credit: Ghetty Images
![A picture of a black howler monkey howling](https://www.factsjustforkids.com/wp-content/uploads/a-black-howler-monkey-howling.png)
A picture of a female black howler monkey howling.Credit: Ghetty Images
Additional Resources on Howler Monkeys
- Howler Monkey Species – Learn about all the different howler monkey species on the New England Primate Conservancy website.
- Howler Monkey – Britannica – Find more cool facts about howler monkeys on the Britannica website.
- Howler Monkey – Wikipedia – Discover more facts about howler monkeys on the Wikipedia website.