Howler Monkey Belize
The black howler monkey (Alouatta pigra) is known as “baboon” in Creole or “saraguate” in Spanish. They are found in
Range of territory (3-25) acres, depends on troop size and availability of food. Howlers often begin and end their day with roaring which helps space the troops out. The low grunts become loud protracted roars creating one of the most memorable sounds of the forest.
Males have a unique throat structure and tracheal cartilages that act as a resonating chamber, amplifying their call. Local beliefs predict roaring occurs before it rains and when other animals are feeding but howlers are heard at all hours of the night. The noise is so loud it is like “
Black howlers weigh 15 to 20 lbs (6-7 kg) and are entirely black, except for infants which are brown. They live in troops of 4 to 8 members usually consisting of an adult male and females with their young. The entire troop feeds, travels, and sleeps together. The troop we saw this morning had 8 members.
Feeding at the slender tips of branches, howlers depend on their prehensile tails as an extra hand to hold on. They are known to rest up to 70% of they day, only traveling about 200-1,200 feet, in addition to sleeping at night. It is always exciting to see them. Watch the howler monkey eating in the video clip below.
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