--- title: Friday October 6, 2023. description: Monkeys spotted this morning in Las Catalinas, Guanacaste, Costa Rica, for all the beach goers. image: https://thedaily.lascatalinascr.com/hubfs/las-catalinas-estancia-horseback-riding-15.png --- # Friday October 6, 2023. [mailto:?subject=I%20wanted%20you%20to%20see%20this%20site&body=https://thedaily.lascatalinascr.com/the-daily-friday-october-6-2023](mailto:?subject=I%20wanted%20you%20to%20see%20this%20site&body=https://thedaily.lascatalinascr.com/the-daily-friday-october-6-2023) [Book](https://www.lascatalinascr.com/section/booking) ### **Playa Danta's Morning Visitors: Mantled Howler Monkeys**    A captivating sight greeted [Las Catalinas](https://www.lascatalinascr.com/) beachgoers and [Elif Academy students](https://www.lascatalinascr.com/shopping-and-dining/elif-academy) this morning at Playa Danta: a group of mantled howler monkeys enjoying their time by the shore.      ### **Meet the Mantled Howler**    The mantled howler, scientifically known as Alouatta palliata, is native to Central and South America. It is a species often encountered in the wilderness of Central America, known for its distinct "mantled" appearance due to the long guard hairs on its sides. These monkeys are among the largest in Central America, with males reaching weights of up to 9.8 kg (22 pounds).      ### **A Unique Diet**      What sets the mantled howler apart is its preference for leaves as a primary food source, a trait uncommon among primates. To adapt to this folivorous diet, they have developed special physiological features. Since leaves are challenging to digest and provide lower energy, mantled howlers spend most of their day resting and sleeping. On Costa Rican beaches, you will often spot groups of mantled howler monkeys with limbs hanging down from tree branches as they nap on their stomachs in the shade of large trees.      ### **The Howler's Signature Call**      Mantled howler monkeys derive their name from their distinctive howling calls. Males have an enlarged hyoid bone near their vocal cords, amplifying these calls. Howling serves as a means of communication, allowing them to locate each other without exerting unnecessary energy or risking physical confrontations.  These monkeys are social beings, often forming groups with varying sizes, which can sometimes exceed 40 members. Their loud howls are a famous feature, audible up to three miles away, even in dense rainforests.      ### **Facing Challenges in the Wild**     Sadly, mantled howler monkeys face numerous threats, including human predation, habitat destruction, illegal wildlife trade, and capture for pets or zoos. Preserving their natural habitat and protecting these magnificent creatures is crucial for their survival.      The presence of mantled howler monkeys at Playa Danta reminds us of the rich biodiversity of the tropical dry forest that surrounds town, and the importance of conservation efforts to safeguard these incredible species.  ## See related posts ## [Sunday, August 11th, 2019.](https://thedaily.lascatalinascr.com/daily-august-11th-2019) [In this Daily: Día de la Madre (Costa Rican Mother’s Day) and the Week Ahead](https://thedaily.lascatalinascr.com/daily-august-11th-2019) [Read more](https://thedaily.lascatalinascr.com/daily-august-11th-2019) ## [Monday, November 18th, 2019.](https://thedaily.lascatalinascr.com/daily-november-18th-2019) [In this Daily: The Pura Vida Ride Paddle Battle and the Intrepid Challenge](https://thedaily.lascatalinascr.com/daily-november-18th-2019) [Read more](https://thedaily.lascatalinascr.com/daily-november-18th-2019) ## [Wednesday, August 28th, 2019.](https://thedaily.lascatalinascr.com/daily-august-28th-2019) [In this Daily: A Look at the National Parks of Costa Rica](https://thedaily.lascatalinascr.com/daily-august-28th-2019) [Read more](https://thedaily.lascatalinascr.com/daily-august-28th-2019) ## [Monday, September 23rd, 2019.](https://thedaily.lascatalinascr.com/daily-september-23rd-2019) [In this Daily: The Monkeys of Guanacaste](https://thedaily.lascatalinascr.com/daily-september-23rd-2019) [Read more](https://thedaily.lascatalinascr.com/daily-september-23rd-2019) #### Subscribe to The Blog, The Daily, The Newsletter, and more Additionally you will receive our occasional newsletter. Absolute confidentiality. Never SPAM. You can unsubscribe at any time. ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "VideoObject", "contentUrl" : "https://4917861.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/4917861/IMG_4685-3.mov", "dateModified" : "2023-10-07T00:49:31.369Z", "duration" : "PT18S", "height" : 1920, "name" : "IMG_4685-3", "thumbnailUrl" : "https://api-na1.hubapi.com/filemanager/api/v3/files/thumbnail-redirect/139139330071?portalId=4917861&size=medium", "uploadDate" : "2023-10-07T00:49:23.323Z", "width" : 1080 } ```