Howler Monkey and Spider Monkey

Howler Monkey

Howler monkeys have one of the loudest voices in nature.  They are native to Mexico, Central America, and South America.  They are true monkeys because they have tails.  Howler monkeys are between 22-36 in., 56-92 cm ...not counting their tail which sometimes is even longer than the rest of the body.  Their tail is prehensile, which means they can use it to hold on to branches or even to pick fruit.  Males are black in color and females are brown.  There is also a species of red howler monkeys.  They are actually what we might call reddish brown, or if they were a horse we might call it chestnut.  We saw these animals, adult and young, at Lamanai in Belize, Central America.  Howler monkeys build nests to sleep in.

Spider Monkeys

Spider Monkeys have long prehensile tails as well.  They have long, what you might call skinny or lanky arms.  But these monkeys are not weaklings.  They are capable of swinging though the jungle trees at great speed.  They are very athletic...think gold medal gymnasts.  They live, like the Howler Monkey, in trees and jungles of Central and South America, as far north as Mexico.  There are seven species of Spider Monkeys. Recent research and analysis indicate that they are the most intelligent of all New World monkeys.  They live in groups of up to 3 dozen or so and move into smaller groups to forage for food and to sleep.  Spider Monkeys often dwell way up in the forest or jungle canopy.  They are seen up to 100 ft. high, 33 meters.  

Rope  Bridge in Mexico

In Mexico some highways through the forest have Spider Monkey Bridges that look like rope bridges.  These bridges allow Spider Monkeys to cross the highway without any danger.


You may wonder why I drew patterns or spots on the tree bark.  The answer is LICHEN.  Lichen is an amazing type of organism.  It is part bacteria and part fungi.  It come in many different colors.  So have fun with it.  The lichen can be red-orange, blue-green, black, gray, green, white. . . and on and on.  In the Yucatan jungle most of the tees had lichen and the lichen seemed to be kind of pastel colors.  So to all you who love to color, have some fun with the lichen!  Make it any color you want, or use pastel colors, (you color very lightly).  Thank you Dr. Larry St Clair, of  BYU Botany Dept., for teaching us all about the science of lichen.  I feel like when you learn about something in nature you see more beauty in it.  And you notice it much more often, out in nature, when you have studied it!

Lichen on tree in Yucatan Jungle