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Difference Between Howler Monkey and Monkey

Howler Monkey vs Monkey

It is always amusing to watch primates in action, but it is best to watch their behaviours with some knowledge about them. These fascinating creatures have a wide diversity among them, and howler monkeys are a perfect example for that. The diversity, geographical distribution, behaviours, and physical characteristics of both monkeys and howler monkeys are discussed in this article, and emphasis about the difference between them is presented, as well.

Howler Monkey

Howler monkey are new world monkeys, and they naturally range in the South and Central American forests. They belong to the Family: Atelidae and there are 15 species of them described under one genus, Alouatta. They are amongst the largest new world monkeys and the length between head and the base of tail could measure from 56 to 92 centimetres. Their short snout, round-wide set nostrils, and maned head are unique to them. They are very special among other new world monkeys as they have trichromatic colour vision in both males and females. One of their characteristics is the howling, and it is a main part of their communication in the society. Their groups contain about 10 or 15 members with few adult males and many females. They do not engage with fights within or between groups. Howler monkeys are specialized herbivores known as folivores. In addition, they are the only folivores among new world monkeys. These fascinating animals can live about 15 or 20 years in wild.

Monkey

Monkeys are amongst the most fascinating creatures of the animal kingdom. Mainly, there are two types of monkeys known as old world and new world. Altogether, there are more than 260 extant species of monkeys. They demonstrate one of the greatest variations in sizes. The smallest member, Pygmy Marmoset, is only 140 millimetres tall with a weight of 4 or 5 ounces, while the largest member, Mandrill, could weigh up to 35 kilograms and can be as tall as 1 metre at their standing posture. Monkeys show strong adaptations for an arboreal life, which is to climb and jump among trees. However, there are some species of monkeys prefer to live in the savannah grasslands. Monkeys feed on an omnivorous diet more often than on herbivorous or carnivorous diets. Usually, they do not stand in the upright posture, but walk with all four limbs most of the time. There are differences between new world and old world monkeys as well; new world monkeys have a prehensile tail and colour vision in their eyes, but not in the old world species. All the monkeys have five digits with an opposable thumb in limbs. Additionally, they also have the binocular vision as all other primates. They are long-lived animals, as some species have their lifespan up to 50 years, but some could live only 10 years.

What is the difference between Howler Monkey and Monkey?

• Monkeys are a group of primates with more than 260 known species distributed all over the world. However, howler monkey is a type of monkeys with 15 different species distributed in the Americas.

• Monkeys include both old world and new world species, but howler monkey is a new world species.

• Monkeys have a broad range of bodyweights (from 4 ounces to 35 kilograms) while howlers’ weight vary from five to ten kilograms.

• Howlers have a strong prehensile tail, but not all the monkeys do have such a tail, especially the old world monkeys.

• Both males and females have trichromatic colour vision in howlers, but it is not very common among all the monkey species.