Mammals · Primates · Atelidae

Black and Gold Howler Monkey

Alouatta caraya

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

Its striking difference in colour between the sexes — males entirely black, females golden brown or olive — is unusual among primates.

Weight

4.4 kg – 6.7 kg

Size

51 cm – 66 cm

Lifespan

16 years

Diet

Herbivore

Feeds mainly on plants.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

Herd

Lives in large groups as a strategy against predators.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

RainforestHerbivore Diurnal In herds Rainforest Mammal

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Fun facts

Its characteristic howl, produced by an enlarged hyoid bone and larynx, carries more than 3 km.
It feeds mainly on leaves, with the occasional fruit.
It lives in tropical and subtropical gallery forest of central South America.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Tropical and subtropical gallery forest of central South America
Birth weight: 113 g at birth, with a golden coat that changes with age
Size at birth: 113 g at birth
Gestation / incubation: 187 days (~6 months)
Litter / clutch size: 1 young per birth
Lifespan in captivity: Documented record of up to 32.4 years

Sources consulted: Animal Diversity Web (species); UWSP Vertebrate Collection; Dimensions.com; AnAge (genomics.senescence.info); Animal Diversity Web (genus Alouatta)