This monkey has nothing but mouth!

What is this cry that we hear rising from the tropical forests of South America? A powerful cry. Hoarse. Probably, that of the red howler monkey. A funny animal. Still, very peaceful.

“Here, it’s Paris!” » It is by chanting this slogan that the supporters of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) – the football team – sign their belonging to the capital. At this stage — the Parc des Princes — they consider theirs. This monkey, a red howler monkey, he cannot express himself with words. So, to mark its territory, it howls. Quite simply. He lets out serious cries. Intended to warn members of other groups that it would be better for them not to venture closer.

The screams of this funny monkey hear each other for several kilometers around. Especially if the whole group – usually made up of 10 to 20 individuals – gets involved. By dint of screaming like this, red howler males have even developed a much larger lower jaw and neck than females, who scream much less.

Yes because in reality, this monkey likes to express itself. It howls for all sorts of reasons, relying on a very varied kind of scream language.

Yell to avoid conflict

But, ultimately, what is this territory that he is so keen to defend? It is that of tropical forests from South America. From the Amazon. A territory on which it easily finds the leaves and the few fruits and buds on which it feeds. A rather poor diet, you will agree. Which also perhaps explains the reason for these howls. Because when you have to save your energyit is better to be able to defend your territory… from a distance!

The other particularity of the red howler monkey is its tail. She is naked. And flattened at its end. It’s a tail prehensile. Which serves him in some way as fifth leg.