1. Monkeys In Guanacaste Costa Rica
2. Monkey Quest Costa Rica Driving Directions
3. Monkey Quest Costa Rica Map

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Four species of monkey are native to the forests of Costa Rica, the Central American squirrel monkey (Saimiri oerstedii), the Panamanian white-faced capuchin (Cebus imitator), the mantled howler (Alouatta palliata) and Geoffroy's spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi).^[1][2] All four species are classified scientifically as New World Monkeys.^[3] Two of the species, the Central American squirrel monkey and the white-faced capuchin, belong to the family Cebidae, the family containing the squirrel monkeys and capuchins. The other two species belong to the family Atelidae, the family containing the howler monkeys, spider monkeys, woolly monkeys and muriquis.^[4][5] Each of the four species can be seen in national parks within Costa Rica, where viewing them in natural surroundings is a popular tourist attraction.^[6][7] The only park in which all four species can be seen is Corcovado National Park, on the Osa Peninsula.^[8]

Monkeys In Guanacaste Costa Rica

The smallest of the Costa Rican monkey species is the Central American squirrel monkey. Adult males average 0.8 kg (1.8 lb) and adult females average 0.7 kg (1.5 lb).^[9] The Central American squirrel monkey has the most restricted range of any Costa Rican monkey, living only in secondary forests and partially logged primary forests on the central and south Pacific coast of Costa Rica, and on the Pacific coast of Panama near the Costa Rican border.^[1][10] In 2008, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) revised its conservation status to 'vulnerable' after rating it 'endangered' since 1982.^[11] The Central American squirrel monkey is most often seen in Manuel Antonio National Park and Corcovado National Park in Costa Rica.^[12]

The other three species have wider ranges within Costa Rica, each being found in forests over much of the country.^[13] The white-faced capuchin, which has a range from Honduras to Ecuador,^[14] is the second smallest Costa Rican monkey. Adult males average 3.7 kg (8.2 lb) and adult females average 2.7 kg (6.0 lb).^[9] The mantled howler, with a range from Mexico to Ecuador,^[15] is the second largest monkey species in Costa Rica. Adult males average 7.2 kg (16 lb) and adult females average 5.4 kg (12 lb).^[16] Males make loud calls, especially at dawn and at dusk, that can be heard for several kilometers.^[1] Geoffroy's spider monkey, with a range from Mexico to Panama,^[17] is the largest of the Costa Rican monkeys, with males averaging 8.2 kg (18 lb) and females averaging 7.7 kg (17 lb).^[16] It has long, slim arms and a long, prehensile tail.^[1][18] The IUCN has rated the white-faced capuchin and mantled howler in the lowest conservation risk category of 'least concern', and has rated Geoffroy's spider monkey as 'endangered'.^[14][15][17] Both the white-faced capuchin and the mantled howler are commonly seen in Costa Rica's parks.^[13][19]

It is unknown why the Central American squirrel monkey has such a restricted range relative to the other Costa Rican monkey species. One theory is that the Central American squirrel monkey's ancestors arrived in Central America earlier than the ancestors of the other species. Under this theory, the squirrel monkey's ancestors arrived in Central America between 3 and 3.5 million years ago, but could not compete effectively when the ancestors of the other species arrived in Central America about 2 million years ago. The other species thus drove the squirrel monkey out of most of its original range. Another factor may be the Central American squirrel monkey's preference for lowland, coastal areas, which may make them more vulnerable to significant population declines due to occasional major hurricanes.^[20]

Two other monkey species are sometimes reported as living in Costa Rica, Geoffroy's tamarin (Saguinus geoffroyi) and the Panamanian night monkey (Aotus zonalis or Aotus lemurinus zonalis).^[1][21][22] The western edge of Geoffroy's tamarin's known range is just west of the Panama Canal zone, about 200 kilometres (120 mi) from the Costa Rica border, and thus reports of it living in Costa Rica are most likely erroneous.^[1][21] Confusion may have resulted from the fact that over part of its range Geoffroy's tamarin is locally referred to as mono titi, which is a name also used for the Central American squirrel monkey in Costa Rica.^[1] Reports of the Panamanian night monkey living in Costa Rica are plausible, since the species is known to occur on the Caribbean coast of Panama not far from the Costa Rica border.^[1][22] However, reports of it living in Costa Rica have not been confirmed by scientists.^[1][22]

Key[edit]

Costa Rican monkey species[edit]

References[edit]

1. ^ ^abcdefghiWainwright, M. (2002). The Natural History of Costa Rican Mammals. Zona Tropical. pp. 125–149. ISBN0-9705678-1-2.
2. ^ ^abMittermeier, Russell A. & Rylands, Anthony B. (2013). Mittermeier, Russell A.; Rylands, Anthony B.; Wilson, Don E. (eds.). Handbook of the Mammals of the World: Volume 3, Primates. Lynx. pp. 412–413. ISBN978-8496553897.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
3. ^Hartwig, W. (2007). 'Primate Evolution'. In Campbell, C.; Fuentes, A.; MacKinnon, K.; Panger, M.; Bearder, S. (eds.). Primates in Perspective. The Oxford University Press. pp. 18–19. ISBN978-0-19-517133-4.
4. ^Groves, C.P. (2005). Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 129–139. ISBN0-801-88221-4. OCLC62265494.
5. ^Groves, C.P. (2005). Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 148–152. ISBN0-801-88221-4. OCLC62265494.
6. ^Greenspan, E. (2006). Frommer's Costa Rica 2007. Wiley Publishing. p. 88. ISBN0-471-94440-8.
7. ^Vorhees, M. & Firestone, M. (2006). Lonely Planet Costa Rica. Lonely Planet. p. 63. ISBN1-74104-463-4.
8. ^Hunter, L. & Andrew, D. (2002). Watching Wildlife Central America. Lonely Planet. p. 97. ISBN1-86450-034-4.
9. ^ ^abcdJack, K. (2007). 'The Cebines'. In Campbell, C.; Fuentes, A.; MacKinnon, K.; Panger, M.; Bearder, S. (eds.). Primates in Perspective. The Oxford University Press. pp. 107–120. ISBN978-0-19-517133-4.
10. ^Emmons, L. (1997). Neotropical Rainforest Mammals A Field Guide (Second ed.). The University of Chicago Press. pp. 126–127. ISBN0-226-20721-8.
11. ^ ^abWong, G.; Cuarón, A.D.; Rodriguez-Luna, E. & de Grammont, P.C. (2008). 'Saimiri oerstedii'. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2008: e.T19836A9022609. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T19836A9022609.en. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
12. ^Hunter, L. & Andrew, D. (2002). Watching Wildlife Central America. Lonely Planet. p. 148. ISBN1-86450-034-4.
13. ^ ^abReid, F. (1998). A Field Guide to the Mammals of Central America and Southeast Mexico. Oxford University Press, Inc. pp. 177–180. ISBN0-19-506401-1.
14. ^ ^abcCausado, J.; Cuarón, A.D.; Shedden, A.; Rodríguez-Luna, E. & de Grammont, P.C. (2008). 'Cebus capucinus'. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2008. Retrieved 2 November 2009.old-form url
15. ^ ^abcCuarón, A.D.; Shedden, A.; Rodríguez-Luna, E.; de Grammont, P.C.; Link, A.; Palacios, E.; Morales, A. & Cortés-Ortiz, L. (2008). 'Alouatta palliata'. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2008: e.T39960A10280447. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T39960A10280447.en. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
16. ^ ^abcdDi Fiore, A. & Campbell, C. (2007). 'The Atelines'. In Campbell, C.; Fuentes, A.; MacKinnon, K.; Panger, M. & Bearder, S. (eds.). Primates in Perspective. The Oxford University Press. pp. 155–177. ISBN978-0-19-517133-4.
17. ^ ^abcCuarón, A.D.; Morales, A.; Shedden, A.; Rodriguez-Luna, E.; de Grammont, P.C. & Cortés-Ortiz, L. (2008). 'Ateles geoffroyi'. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2008: e.T2279A9387270. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T2279A9387270.en. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
18. ^Hunter, L. & Andrew, D. (2002). Watching Wildlife in Central America. Lonely Planet. p. 151. ISBN1-86450-034-4.
19. ^Hunter, L. & Andrew, D. (2002). Watching Wildlife Central America. Lonely Planet. p. 149. ISBN1-86450-034-4.
20. ^Ford, S. (2006). 'The Biogeographic History of Mesoamerican Preimates'. In Estrada, A.; Garber, P.; Pavelka, M.; Luecke, L. (eds.). New Perspectives in the Study of Mesoamerican Primates. Springer. pp. 81–107. ISBN0-387-25854-X.
21. ^ ^abRylands, A.; Groves, C.; Mittermeier, R.; Cortes-Ortiz, L. & Hines, J. (2006). 'Taxonomy and Distributions of Mesoamerican Primates'. In Estrada, A.; Garber, P.; Pavelka, M. & Luecke, L. (eds.). New Perspectives in the Study of Mesoamerican Primates. Springer. pp. 32–37. ISBN0-387-25854-X.
22. ^ ^abcRylands, A.; Groves, C.; Mittermeier, R.; Cortes-Ortiz, L. & Hines, J. (2006). 'Taxonomy and Distributions of Mesoamerican Primates'. In Estrada, A.; Garber, P.; Pavelka, M. & Luecke, L. (eds.). New Perspectives in the Study of Mesoamerican Primates. Springer. pp. 43–47. ISBN0-387-25854-X.
23. ^Groves, C.P. (2005). Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 138–139. ISBN0-801-88221-4. OCLC62265494.
24. ^Groves, C.P. (2005). Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 137. ISBN0-801-88221-4. OCLC62265494.
25. ^Groves, C.P. (2005). Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 149. ISBN0-801-88221-4. OCLC62265494.
26. ^Groves, C.P. (2005). Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 150–151. ISBN0-801-88221-4. OCLC62265494.

Costa Rica: the country with more monkeys than humans. This was on a sign I saw in Manuel Antonio and I couldn’t help but snicker to myself. Not because it was absurd, but because it actually feels 100% true.

Costa Rica is home to 4 different species of monkeys: Howler, White Face or Capuchin, Squirrel and Spider and there is a good chance you’ll at least see one of the four during your trip. If you’re dying to see monkeys in Costa Rica, here is all you need to know!

Mantled Howler Monkey

The Mantled Howler Monkey is a type of New World monkey that is one of the largest Central American monkeys and are responsible for that loud, kind of scary noise the first time you hear it at 5:30 in the morning. Many expats fondly call them their “alarm clock.”

Howler monkeys are found in many parts of Costa Rica, particularly in Guanacaste. Male howler monkeys are said to be the loudest land animal as they have an enlarged hyoid bone which allows them to amplify their calls for miles. Only males howl in order to communicate within the troops and in response to their environment. They have been known to howl during the rain, howl back at dogs and at people and they mostly howl during sunrise and sunset.

Since they have a folivorous diet meaning they eat mostly leaves, they don’t move as much as other monkeys, they sleep a lot to digest the leaves and don’t need a lot of space to live so they can survive in the dry arid heat of Guanacaste easier. Many times when you see a howler monkey, they look a little like this:

You can see howler monkeys in Osa Peninsula, Manuel Antonio National Park, Guanacaste, Monteverde, Arenal, Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge and the Caribbean coast. We have seen them many times in the trees of some beaches in Guanacaste such as Tamarindo, Ocotal and Hermosa. Since they are quite common in Guanacaste, you may even see them on the side of the road.

White Face Monkey

These cheeky monkeys are native to Central America and are extremely intelligent. You may recognize this monkey from movies and TV but did you know they have also trained White face monkeys to assist paraplegics?

These monkeys are omnivorous and highly active, living in troops of more than 20 members. They also walk on the ground more than other New World Monkeys. Considered to be the most intelligent New World Monkey, they have been observed using tools and adapting to human behavior.

In Costa Rica, you can see these monkeys at Manuel Antonio, Osa Peninsula, Monteverde, Arenal, Nicoya, Tortuguero and Palo Verde. They are especially common in Manuel Antonio National Park, where they are known to steal food from tourists (please do not feed the animals).

Central American Squirrel Monkey

The Squirrel Monkeys are among the smallest of the primates and are only found on the Pacific coasts of Costa Rica and Panama. They are omnivores and live in big troops from 20 to 75 members.

Currently the Squirrel Monkey is vulnerable mainly due to deforestation and illegal pet trade. Costa Rica’s national parks where the monkeys are found is helping them bring their numbers back up. You can see these monkeys in Corcovado National Park, Osa Peninsula and Manuel Antonio National Park.

Geoffrey’s Spider Monkey

The Spider Monkey is another New World monkey that has a prehensile tail that can support the entire body weight of the monkey. It’s one of the biggest New World monkeys weighing up to 20 lbs (9 kg).

Monkey Quest Costa Rica Driving Directions

Spider monkeys are commonly seen in Corcovado National Park and Osa Peninsula and they used to be quite abundant throughout Costa Rica. Sadly due to deforestation and hunting, they are surviving in places that support their large troop size and diet as they eat mostly fruit.

They are also seen in Rincon de la Vieja National Park, Tortuguero the Costa Ballena and Monteverde but are less common.

They’re the most active of all four Costa Rican monkey species since they have the prehensile tail which allows them to move swiftly through the treetops. Sometimes if a spider monkey doesn’t have other members to create a troop, it’ll join a troop of White Face monkeys. There have been sightings of a White Face monkey troop of 20 members and 1 Spider Monkey.

Corcovado National Park is the only park in Costa Rica where you can see all 4 monkeys.

Monkey Quest Costa Rica Map

Want to see other wildlife in Costa Rica? Check these posts out!