The mantled howler (Alouatta palliata), or golden-mantled howling monkey, is a species of howler monkey, a type of New World monkey, from Central and South America. It is one of the monkey species most often seen and heard in the wild in Central America. It takes its “mantled” name from the long guard hairs on its sides. The attached images of the Mantled howler monkeys where taken in Panama.
The mantled howler is the only Central American monkey that eats large quantities of leaves; it has several adaptations to this folivorous diet. Since leaves are difficult to digest and provide less energy than most foods, the mantled howler spends the majority of each day resting and sleeping. The male mantled howler has an enlarged hyoid bone, a hollow bone near the vocal cords, which amplifies the calls made by the male, and is the reason for the name “howler”. Howling allows the monkeys to locate each other without expending energy on moving or risking physical confrontation.
Mantled howler monkey (Alouatta palliata)
Mantled howler monkey (Alouatta palliata)
Mantled howler monkey (Alouatta palliata)
Mantled howler monkey (Alouatta palliata)
Mantled howler monkey (Alouatta palliata)
Mantled howler monkey (Alouatta palliata)
Mantled howler monkey (Alouatta palliata)
Mantled howler monkey (Alouatta palliata)