Mantled Howler Monkey

One of the loudest land animals

Howler monkeys are tree-dwelling primates known for their roaring chorus. Mantled howlers have black fur with golden fringes along the sides and a prehensile tail that works as a fifth limb.

Built for loud calls

Males have an enlarged hyoid bone that acts like a resonating chamber, making their calls much deeper and louder than their body size suggests. Troops often roar at dawn and after rain, which helps neighbouring groups avoid direct conflict by keeping track of one another.

Slow living

Their diet of leaves is low in energy, so howlers spend much of the day resting. They play an important role as seed dispersers, but forest fragmentation isolates troops and makes them vulnerable to disease and electrocution on power lines.

Further reading: The Loudest Animals on Earth and Why They Are So Loud

Conservation status follows the IUCN Red List as we understand it at the time of writing. Assessments are revised regularly, so please check the IUCN Red List for the current listing.