mammals

MONKEY WEEK DAY #5

It’s the last day of Monkey Week and we’ve had a blast meeting all these great primates! We’re going back the rainforests of South America to meet today’s monkey! There is a good chance we’ll hear them before we see them! Let’s head out on today’s adventure!

MEET THE RED HOWLER MONKEY!

   Range/Habitat: Northwest South America/ rainforests-mangroves

   Diet: Herbivores: fruit, leaves

   Length/Weight: 20-25”/15-21 lbs

   Conservation Status: common

Fun Facts:

•          Red Howler monkeys are the largest of the howler monkey species.
•          They are arboreal.
•          Red howler monkeys use howls, whoops and calls to communicate with each other.
•         Those calls can be heard up to 1 ¼ miles away.
•     Red howler monkeys live in troops of one male with 3-4 females.
•          Red howler monkeys have a prehensile tail that they use to hang from branches.

Red howler monkeys are amazing! We wished we had prehensile tails. Did you know that only new world monkeys have prehensile tails?

MONKEY WEEK DAY #4

GUESS THE MONKEY!!

• I live in the rainforests of Brazil.
• I am about the size of a squirrel.
• I am named after the king of the jungle.

WHO AM I?

MONKEY WEEK DAY #3!

We’re off to Japan to meet today’s monkey! These primates live in very cold climates and are very adaptive to that climate! Grab your coats and let’s head off to meet…

MEET THE JAPANESE MACAQUE!

   Range/Habitat: Japan/mountains-forests

   Diet: Omnivore: fruit, leaves, insects

   Length/Weight: 18-23”/ 17-24 lb

   Conservation Status common

Fun Facts:

•          Japanese macaques are also known as the snow monkey.
•          They live in the most northerly habitat of any monkey.
•          Japanese macaques live in troops of around 40 individuals.
•          Japanese macaques sit in hot springs to keep warm.
•          They have a “culture”. They teach younger generations adaptive skills. These skills vary by troop.

Japanese macaques are really cute with their fluffy grey coats of fur and their little red faces. We think it is super cool that they have their own hot tubs!

MONKEY WEEK DAY #2!

Woohoo for Day #2 of Monkey Week! We’re going to the rainforests of Northern South America to find a very cute, small monkey who lives high in the trees! Get your gear and let’s get ready to zip line through the rainforest!

MEET THE COTTONTOP TAMARIN!

   Range/Habitat: Northwest South America/ rainforest

   Diet: Omnivore: fruit, buds, insects

   Length/Weight: 8-10”/ 14-16 oz

   Conservation Status endangered

Fun Facts:

•          Cottontop Tamarins are arboreal.
•          They have a crown of white fluffy fur on their head.
•          Cottontop tamarins have long tails for balance.
•          Cottontop tamarins live in small family troops with one breeding pair.
•         Four out of five births are twins.
•          Cottontop tamarins family members help take care of the offspring.

Cottontop tamarins are so cute with their crazy hairdos! There are more of these special monkeys in captivity than there are in the wild. We must really work to help protect these amazing animals.