Species of Monkeys

Costa Rica is home to four different species of monkeys. Monkeys can be found all over the country and are often a favorite among tourists when it comes to seeing wildlife. The four different species are the howler monkey, squirrel monkey, spider monkey, and white faced capuchin monkey.

The Howler monkey is Costa Rica’s loudest monkey. It is a very interesting species as you can hear the roar of the howler from 2km away. When you hear it you might think it is the size of a large gorilla, but later you’ll find out it only weighs only about 10 – 15 pounds.

The Squirrel monkey which is also known as the Titi monkey is Costa Rica’s smallest monkey and in many  opinions the cutest. This monkey travels in large groups up to 60 monkeys and is only found in the south Pacific of Costa Rica. The most interesting fact is that it is endemic to this region and to the North Pacific of Panama and can be seen no other place in the world.

Spider Monkey gets its name because of its long arms and legs. This is Costa Rica’s largest species of monkey and probably the least seen. This species does not have a thumb which allows it to swing on branches at a higher speed. They need to move at higher speeds because they travel larger distance because fruits of the forest are more spread out.  This monkey needs a lot of forest because it feeds mostly off fruit. It has the longest pregnancy of all the monkeys in Costa Rica. They can be pregnant up to 230 days almost the same as humans.  

White-faced capuchin is a species that is the smartest of all the monkeys. It has a brain that has been compared to the chimpanzee. They have been known to work in a team for the benefit of the group.  This species has been seen using tools to work on different fruits to open them. They have also been known to use fruits and leaves with different repellent properties. This is also the only monkey that uses all the levels of the forest from the top of the canopy to the canopy floor. The monkey got its name from the color it has on its fur and face. It looks like the habit of Capuchin monks, the same order as Padre Pio.