Mammals
Red howler monkey
Alouatta seniculusConservation statusLeast Concern
DietLeaves, fruit and flowers
Lifespan20-25 years
Size and weightUp to about 9 kg
A large monkey with reddish-brown fur and a thick tail that can hold on to branches. In the heat of the day it sits high in the treetops, barely moving.
Echo chamber in the throat
What makes it specialIts tongue bone has become a hollow echo chamber. The howl can be heard up to about five kilometers away.
Surprising factIt rests or sleeps about 80 percent of the day. A diet of leaves gives very little energy.
PopulationCommon, hundreds of thousands on the continent.
Heard from the lodge at dawn