Venezuelan red howler
A species of Howler monkeys, Also known as Red howler monkey Scientific name : Alouatta seniculus Genus : Howler monkeys
Venezuelan red howler, A species of Howler monkeys
Also known as:
Red howler monkey
Scientific name: Alouatta seniculus
Genus: Howler monkeys
Content
Description General Info
Photo By Akshathrajan , used under CC-BY-SA-3.0 /Cropped and compressed from original
Description
Sexual dimorphism in this species is small; males range from 49–72 cm and females from 46–57 cm long. The males weigh 5.4-9 kg, while females weigh 4.2–7 kg. It has a long prehensile tail of 49–75 cm. The tail is covered with fur except for the last third of the underside, which allows it to grab branches. The color of both males and females is a deep reddish-brown, and the color shade changes with age. Their faces are surrounded by fur and they have stubby noses. The jawbone of the red howler monkey is large, especially the body of the mandible. The position of the foramen magnum is very posterior to make way for the expanded jaw and enlarged hyoid bone. Howler monkeys also have an inflated bulla, which is the bony encasement of the middle ear. This makes them an exception among other New World monkeys. The diurnal Alouatta seniculus is an arboreal primate, so it spends much of its time high in the canopy. Its preferred method of locomotion is quadrupedal walking with minimal leaping. Its long, prehensile tail also assists it by providing both support and grasping abilities. In addition, its hands and feet have a grasping pattern that allows it to better move about in the trees. This can be seen by the wide separation of the second and third digits of the hand.
General Info
Lifespan
20-25 years
Diet
Venezuelan red howler is predominately folivorous, making leaves its primary food, particularly young leaves, flowers, and fruit. This species also selectively consumes certain insects and small vertebrates. Venezuelan red howler's low-energy diet is complemented by its sedentary lifestyle.
Appearance
Venezuelan red howler is a medium-sized primate with a hunched, robust body and coarse, dense fur. Its coat is predominantly red to reddish-brown, with canopies highlighting lighter or darker tones. This species exhibits notable white facial discs around their keen eyes. Males often possess larger canines than females. An exceptional feature is its unusually long, prehensile tail used for grasping tree branches.
Behavior
Venezuelan red howler is a diurnal, arboreal species, typically living in social groups of about 15 members. They are known for their distinctive loud vocalizations, particularly at dawn and dusk, marking territory and communicating within the group. Foraging is predominantly for foliage, with selective feeding on young leaves.
Population
Decreasing
Photo By Akshathrajan , used under CC-BY-SA-3.0 /Cropped and compressed from original
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Mammals Order
Apes Family
Atelids Genus
Howler monkeys Species
Venezuelan red howler