Black Howler Monkey

scientific name

alouatta caraya

size/weight/height

Weight: male 16 lbs. " female 12.5 lbs.
Head and body length: male 18 - 28" " female 15 - 22"
Tail length: male 19 - 29 " female 19 - 27"
Females: 80% size of males

adaptations/coloration

Color: Long course hair. Male black, female and juveniles yellow-brown " Face: bare and darkly pigmented" Nostrils: close together " Lower jaw and neck: large swelling under chin for larynx, outlined by beard in male "
Head: low on shoulders giving a hunched look " Arms and legs long in proportion to body " Tail: prehensile, naked on the underside " Hand: prehensile, thumb pseudo-opposable " Big toe opposable " Genitalia prominent "Nipples located near armpits

behavior

Diurnal " Primarily arboreal, occasionally spend short periods on ground "
Locomotion: Slow four-footed gait with prehensile tail ready to give support or intermittently grasping " Hang by arms or tail alone when feeding on slender terminal branches " Avoid leaps but will leap 3 -4 yards after much hesitation " Able to swim if necessary " Tail always tightly coiled around branch when resting "
Territory: Usually do not have an area of exclusive use but will defend the territory of current use by howling accompanied by shaking and breaking of branches "
Vocalization: Loud and persistent: deep howls or growls that can carry 1.8 miles (3 km) in forest and 3.1 miles (5km) over water "
Troop size: 3 - 19 adult males and 2 -7 adult females.

reproduction/lifespan

Lifespan: wild 16 - 20 yrs. " captivity 23 yrs.
Breeding Season: year-round
Gestation: 180 - 194 days
Birth: single, twinning occasionally
Young: will cling to mother for 1 year
Birth Interval: 7 - 15 months
Sexual Maturity: male 5 yrs.; female 3 - 4 yrs.

diet

Wild: Primarily leaf eater, also buds, flowers and fruit, particularly figs
Zoo: monkey chow, vegetables, fruit, and browse

habitat/range

tropical rain forest and mixed deciduous forest " upper and middle canopy " Eastern Bolivia, southern Brazil, Paraguay, northern Argentina

status

not listed " studbook participant

other

hunted for food and captured for export

oregon zoo exhibit

Primates

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