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8 Howler Monkey Facts for Kids

navajocodetalkersadmin on January 11, 2015 - 10:00 am in Fun Facts for Kids

Howler Monkeys are very loud monkey’s as a matter of fact the name “howler” suits them perfectly. They let out a very loud screech when they are communicating with each other. The howl can be heard from quite a long distance away.

1. They are native to central and South America. They live in family groups of about 10-20 monkeys. They have their own ruling class that they strictly adhere to. They all work together to insure that everyone has enough food, shelter and water.

2. Typically the oldest male Howler is the leader. As he ages he may be challenged for his position but typically the ruler gets to be the ruler until his death.

3. They live high in the trees of the jungle and very rarely if ever come down from the tops of the trees. They spend their days eating leaves, fruits and nuts. Very rarely you will spot a howler on the ground looking for water. Most of their fluid intake comes from the food that they eat but during very dry conditions they may be forced down out of the trees on to the floor looking for water.

Their Tail

4. They have a tensile tail which they can use as a fifth limb. They use their tail to grip on to branches so that they can swing to the next branch. They are also very playful and use their tails so that they can swing and play with each other.

Size

5. The male Howler is larger than the female by a few inches. The male can be about 26-30 inches long while the female typically maxes out in size at 24 inches. Their tail can add up to another 26 inches in length.

Why Do They Howl?

6. Typically you can hear the Howler Monkey howling in the early morning hours and at dusk. This roaring noise can be heard for miles. The reason that they howl during these times is not so much to communicate within their troop but to let other troops know where they are so everyone can respect each other’s troop space.

7. One troop will howl and wait until another troop responds back. This howling back and forth lets each troop know that the other is not in their territory. They are very territorial animals and do not appreciate visitors encroaching on their space.

8. The howl can be perceived as a warning or a shout out to let other howler families know they are there.

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