List of Central American monkey species

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Geoffroy's spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi) is found in all seven Central American countries. Panama spider monkey, Costa Rica.JPG
Geoffroy's spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi) is found in all seven Central American countries.

At least seven monkey species are native to Central America. An eighth species, the Coiba Island howler (Alouatta coibensis) is often recognized, but some authorities treat it as a subspecies of the mantled howler, (A. palliata). [1] A ninth species, the black-headed spider monkey (Ateles fusciceps)is also often recognized, but some authorities regard it as a subspecies of Geoffroy's spider monkey (A. geoffroyi). [2] In addition, two species of white-faced capuchin monkey have been generally recognized since the 2010s although some primatologists consider these to be a single species. [3] Taxonomically, all Central American monkey species are classified as New World monkeys, and they belong to four families. Five species belong to the family Atelidae, which includes the howler monkeys, spider monkeys, woolly monkeys and muriquis. Three species belong to the family Cebidae, the family that includes the capuchin monkeys and squirrel monkeys. One species each belongs to the night monkey family, Aotidae, and the tamarin and marmoset family, Callitrichidae.

Contents

Geoffroy's spider monkey is the only monkey found in all seven Central American countries, and it is also found in Colombia, Ecuador and Mexico. [1] [4] Other species that have a widespread distribution throughout Central America are the mantled howler, which is found in five Central American countries, and the Panamanian white-faced capuchin (Cebus imitator), which is found in four Central American countries. [5] [6] [3] The Coiba Island howler, the black-headed spider monkey, the Panamanian night monkey (Aotus zonalis), the Colombian white-faced capuchin (Cebus capucinus) and Geoffroy's tamarin (Saguinus geoffroyi) are each found in only one Central American country, Panama. [7] [8] [9] [10] [3] The Central American squirrel monkey (Saimiri oerstedii) also has a restricted distribution, living only on part of the Pacific coast of Costa Rica and a small portion of Panama. [11] El Salvador is the Central American country with the fewest monkey species, as only Geoffroy's spider monkey lives there. Panama has the most species, nine, as the only Central American monkey species that does not include Panama within its range is the Yucatán black howler (Alouatta pigra).

The mantled howler (Alouatta palliata) has widespread distribution within Central America. Walking Alouatta palliata, Costa Rica.JPG
The mantled howler (Alouatta palliata) has widespread distribution within Central America.

Geoffroy's tamarin is the smallest Central American monkey, with an average size of about 0.5 kilograms (1.1 lb). [12] The Central American squirrel monkey and Panamanian night monkey are almost as small, with average sizes of less than 1.0 kilogram (2.2 lb). [13] [14] The Yucatán black howler has the largest males, which average over 11 kilograms (24 lb). [15] The spider monkey species have the next largest males, which average over 8 kilograms (18 lb). [15] [16]

One Central American monkey, the black-headed spider monkey, is considered to be Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). [8] Geoffroy's spider monkey and the Yucatán black howler are both considered to be Endangered. [4] [17] The Central American squirrel monkey had been considered endangered, but its conservation status was upgraded to Vulnerable in 2008. [11] The Coiba Island howler is also considered to be vulnerable. [7] The white-faced capuchins, the mantled howler and Geoffroy's tamarin are all considered to be of Least Concern from a conservation standpoint. [5] [6] [10]

Monkey watching is a popular tourist activity in parts of Central America. [18] [19] In Costa Rica, popular areas to view monkeys include Corcovado National Park, Manuel Antonio National Park, Santa Rosa National Park Guanacaste National Park and Lomas de Barbudal Biological Reserve. [19] Corcovado National Park is the only park in Costa Rica in which all the country's four monkey species can be seen. [20] The more accessible Manuel Antonio National Park is the only other park in Costa Rica in which the Central American squirrel monkey is found, and the Panamanian white-faced capuchin and mantled howler are also commonly seen there. [19] [21] [22] Within Panama, areas to view monkeys include Darién National Park, Soberanía National Park and a number of islands on Gatun Lake including Barro Colorado Island. [19] [23] [24] In addition, Geoffroy's tamarin can be seen in Metropolitan Natural Park within Panama City. [19] [25] In Belize, the easily explored Community Baboon Sanctuary was established specifically for the preservation of the Yucatán black howler and now contains more than 1000 monkeys. [26] [27]

Key

The Panamanian white-faced capuchin is found in four Central American countries. Capuchin Costa Rica.jpg
The Panamanian white-faced capuchin is found in four Central American countries.
Latin NameLatin binomial name, or scientific name, of the species
Common NameCommon name of the species, per Wilson, et al.Mammal Species of the World (2005)
FamilyFamily within New World monkeys to which the species belongs
Average Size - MaleAverage size of adult male members of the species, in kilograms and pounds
Average Size - FemaleAverage size of adult female members of the species, in kilograms and pounds
Conservation StatusConservation status of the species, per IUCN as of 2010
RangeCountries in which the species occurs; countries outside Central America shown in italics

Central American monkey species

The Central American squirrel monkey is restricted to a limited range within Costa Rica and Panama. Squirrel monkey1-cropped.jpg
The Central American squirrel monkey is restricted to a limited range within Costa Rica and Panama.
Geoffroy's tamarin (Saguinus geoffroyi) is the smallest Central American monkey. Stavenn Saguinus geoffroyi 00.jpg
Geoffroy's tamarin (Saguinus geoffroyi) is the smallest Central American monkey.
Latin NameCommon NameFamilyAverage Size - MaleAverage Size - FemaleConservation StatusRangeReferences
Alouatta coibensis [a] Coiba Island howler Atelidae 7.150 kg (15.76 lb)5.350 kg (11.79 lb) Status iucn3.1 VU.svg
Vulnerable 		Panama [7] [15]
Alouatta palliata Mantled howler Atelidae 7.150 kg (15.76 lb)5.350 kg (11.79 lb) Status iucn3.1 LC.svg
Least Concern 		Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Colombia , Ecuador , Mexico [5] [15]
Alouatta pigra Yucatán black howler Atelidae 11.352 kg (25.03 lb)6.434 kg (14.18 lb) Status iucn3.1 EN.svg
Endangered 		Belize, Guatemala, Mexico [15] [17]
Aotus zonalis [b] Panamanian night monkey Aotidae 0.889 kg (1.96 lb)0.916 kg (2.02 lb) Status iucn3.1 DD.svg
Data Deficient 		Panama, Colombia [9] [14]
Ateles fusciceps [c] Black-headed spider monkey Atelidae 8.890 kg (19.60 lb)8.800 kg (19.40 lb) Status iucn3.1 CR.svg
Critically Endangered 		Panama, Colombia , Ecuador [8] [16]
Ateles geoffroyi Geoffroy's spider monkey Atelidae 8.210 kg (18.10 lb)7.700 kg (16.98 lb) Status iucn3.1 EN.svg
Endangered 		Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Colombia , Mexico [4] [15]
Cebus capucinus [d] Colombian white-faced capuchin Cebidae 3.668 kg (8.09 lb)2.666 kg (5.88 lb) Status iucn3.1 LC.svg
Least Concern 		Panama, Colombia , Ecuador [3] [6] [13]
Cebus imitator Panamanian white-faced capuchin Cebidae 3.668 kg (8.09 lb)2.666 kg (5.88 lb) Status iucn3.1 LC.svg
Least Concern 		Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama [3] [6] [13]
Saguinus geoffroyi Geoffroy's tamarin Callitrichidae 0.486 kg (1.07 lb)0.507 kg (1.12 lb) Status iucn3.1 LC.svg
Least Concern 		Panama, Colombia [10] [12]
Saimiri oerstedii Central American squirrel monkey Cebidae 0.829 kg (1.83 lb)0.695 kg (1.53 lb) Status iucn3.1 VU.svg
Vulnerable 		Costa Rica, Panama [11] [13]

Footnotes

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atelidae</span> Family of New World monkeys

The Atelidae are one of the five families of New World monkeys now recognised. It was formerly included in the family Cebidae. Atelids are generally larger monkeys; the family includes the howler, spider, woolly, and woolly spider monkeys. They are found throughout the forested regions of Central and South America, from Mexico to northern Argentina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geoffroy's tamarin</span> Species of New World monkey

Geoffroy's tamarin, also known as the Panamanian, red-crested or rufous-naped tamarin, is a tamarin, a type of small monkey, found in Panama and Colombia. It is predominantly black and white, with a reddish nape. Diurnal, Geoffroy's tamarin spends most of its time in trees, but does come down to the ground occasionally. It lives in groups that most often number between three and five individuals, and generally include one or more adults of each sex. It eats a variety of foods, including insects, exudates, fruits and other plant parts. Insects and fruits account for the majority of its diet, but exudates are also important. But since its teeth are not adapted for gouging trees to get to the sap, it can only eat exudates when they are easily available.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geoffroy's spider monkey</span> Species of spider monkey, from Central America

Geoffroy's spider monkey, also known as the black-handed spider monkey or the Central American spider monkey, is a species of spider monkey, a type of New World monkey, from Central America, parts of Mexico and possibly a small portion of Colombia. There are at least five subspecies. Some primatologists classify the black-headed spider monkey, found in Panama, Colombia, and Ecuador as the same species as Geoffroy's spider monkey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mantled howler</span> Species of New World monkey

The mantled howler 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yucatán black howler</span> Species of New World monkey

The Yucatán black howler, or Guatemalan black howler, is a species of howler monkey, a type of New World monkey, from Central America. It is found in Belize, Guatemala and Mexico, in and near the Yucatán Peninsula. It lives in evergreen, semideciduous and lowland rain forests. It is also known as the baboon in Belize, although it is not closely related to the baboons in Africa.

The Coiba Island howler is a type of howler monkey, a type of New World monkey, endemic to Panama. Although the Coiba Island howler has been recognized as a separate species by a number of authorities since a 1987 study of its fingerprints, mitochondrial DNA testing found it does not differ from mantled howler populations in any significant way. A reason given for treating it as a separate species is that the dermal ridges of its hands and feet differ from those of the mantled howler.

The Azuero howler a type of monkey that is a subspecies of the Coiba Island howler A. coibensis. This subspecies is endemic to the Azuero Peninsula in Panama. The Azuero howler is distinguished primarily by its golden flanks and loins, and browner appearance on the rest of its body.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ecuadorian mantled howler</span> Subspecies of New World monkey

The Ecuadorian mantled howler is a subspecies of the mantled howler, A. palliata. It ranges from Panama through Colombia and Ecuador into northern Peru. The range limits between the Ecuadorian mantled howler and the golden-mantled howler are not entirely clear. The Ecuadorian mantled howler replaces the Golden-mantled howler in either extreme eastern Costa Rica or western Panama. The Ecuadorian mantled howler differs from the golden-mantled howler primarily by being paler, with a more yellowish mantle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden-mantled howler</span> Subspecies of New World monkey

The golden-mantled howler is a subspecies of the mantled howler, A. palliata. It ranges throughout much of Central America, in Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica, and possibly Panama. The range limits between the golden-mantled howler and the Ecuadorian mantled howler are not entirely clear. The Ecuadorian mantled howler replaces the golden-mantled howler in either extreme eastern Costa Rica or western Panama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mexican howler</span> Subspecies of New World monkey

The Mexican howler is a subspecies of the mantled howler, A. palliata. This subspecies is found predominantly in forests between south eastern Mexico and north eastern Peru. Typical of its species, the Mexican howler monkey has a prehensile tail, a deep jaw, and a large pharynx which it uses to make characteristically deep and resonating howls. Mantled howler monkeys are known for forming unusually large cohorts averaging 14 members and sometimes extending to 40 members.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ornate spider monkey</span> Subspecies of New World monkey

The ornate spider monkey is a subspecies of Geoffroy's spider monkey, a type of New World monkey, from Central America, native to Costa Rica and Panama. Other common names for this subspecies include the brilliant spider monkey, the common spider monkey, the red spider monkey, the Panama spider ape, and the Azuero spider monkey; the latter two of which were previously thought to be distinct subspecies, panamensis and azuerensis, respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yucatan spider monkey</span> Subspecies of New World monkey

The Yucatan spider monkey, also known by its mayan name "Ma'ax", is a disputed subspecies of Geoffroy's spider monkey, and is one of the largest types of New World monkey. It inhabits forests of Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador and Honduras. It is a social animal, living in groups of 20-42 members. The subspecies is considered to be an endangered according to the IUCN Red list since 2020, mostly due to human threats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Azuero spider monkey</span> Subspecies of New World monkey

The Azuero spider monkey is a possible subspecies of spider monkey that is in critical danger of extinction according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Common names of this subspecies include mono charro, mono charao and mono araña. The Azuero subspecies is one of three types of spider monkeys in Panama; Ateles geoffroyi panamensis with a range spanning from Costa Rica to Darién excluding the Azuero, Ateles geoffroyi fusciceps, with a range spanning Panamá and Colón provinces, and Ateles geoffroyi azuerensis, the Azuero spider monkey, whose range encompasses only the Azuero Peninsula.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern Panamanian montane forests</span>

The Eastern Panamanian montane forests (NT0122) is an ecoregion in the east of Panama and the extreme northwest of Colombia. It contains diverse flora and fauna, with considerable endemism. The ecoregion is largely intact due to its inaccessibility, although the opening of an extension of the Pan-American Highway has introduced threats from human activity.

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