Red-handed howler

The Rothandbrüllaffe ( Alouatta belzebul ) is a primate of the species of howler monkeys within the peg-tail monkeys ( Atelidae ). He lives in South America.

The fur of the Rothandbrüllaffen is predominantly black in color, the eponymous reddish- brown coloration of the hands, feet and tip of the tail does not come in all animals before. Like all howler monkeys, they are relatively large, stocky built primates. The limbs are long and strong, the tail long and designed as a prehensile tail - he's at the rear end of the lower side of a hairless body. With a weight of 6.5 bis 8.0 kg males are significantly heavier than females, which reach 4.9 to 6.2 kilograms.

Rothandbrüllaffen live in northeastern Brazil. They primarily inhabit the territories south of the Amazon and east of the Rio Madeira to the north-eastern coastal forests. They are forest dwellers that occur in rain, but also other forest types.

These animals are diurnal and arboreal. They live in groups, which are composed of one ( sometimes two) male, several females and their associated young animals. Especially in the morning is typical for the genus loud roar is audible, is intended to alert especially other groups on their own whereabouts. These animals are herbivores that feed on leaves, fruits and flowers.

Main threat to these animals is the destruction of their habitat, particularly in the northeast Brazilian coastal forests. In addition, they are hunted for their meat. The IUCN lists the species as endangered ( vulnerable ).

The Amazonian Black Howler Monkey ( Alouatta nigerrima ), whose distribution area west adjoins that of Rothandbrüllaffen is managed as an independent species recently.