Paralouatta

The Cuba Monkey ( Paralouatta varonai ) is an extinct primate species that occurred on the island of Cuba, and at least lived before Christ to 3000.

Since 1987, several subfossil remains have been found, including a nearly complete skull and several parts of the body skeleton. The findings suggest that the nature of a weight of ten to twelve kilograms reached and may at least temporarily lived on the ground.

The type genus received its name due to superficial similarities with the howler monkeys ( Alouatta ), for their close relatives they were considered at first. But details of the teeth and jaw construction include a closer relationship with them, today it assigns them Antillean monkeys ( Xenotrichini ) to an extinct primate group of the Greater Antilles. When her next of kin shall be the Hispaniola Monkey ( Antillothrix bernensis ).

The exact time and the causes of extinction of Cuba monkeys are unclear but it is likely to be by the Indians in connection with the colonization of Cuba. The most recent known finds are dated to an age of about 5000 years.