Howler Monkeys

The minute we booked into Hostel Wunderbar we could hear the howler monkeys.  Their sound is sometimes terrifying!!  If you didn't know any better you would think a huge monster was making the noise!!  We went for a walk one day and found the tree they were living in.  If you mimic their sound they will reverberate back many times louder!  Eventually, the howlers worked their way into our backyard!  We were in awe!!  The large family occupied three or four large trees!

Howler monkeys are the loudest of all monkeys.  The call to let others know where their territory is, alerting them to stay away.  The call sounds like a loud whooping bark or roar, and can usually be heard early morning or evening.  They rarely leave the safety of the canopy, mainly feeding on leaves, fruit, nuts, and flowers. Howlers have prehensile tails, or tails that can be used as a fifth limb to grip branches. Families are comprised of about 15 to 20 members, and the leader is usually an old male.  The body of the howler ranges from  about 56 to 92 cm long, with a tail that is about the same length.  They are found in Central and South America.