Coiba Island howler explained

The Coiba Island howler (Alouatta coibensis) is a type of howler monkey, a type of New World monkey, endemic to Panama. Although the Coiba Island howler has been recognized as a separate species by a number of authorities since a 1987 study of its fingerprints, mitochondrial DNA testing found it does not differ from mantled howler populations in any significant way.^[1] A reason given for treating it as a separate species is that the dermal ridges of its hands and feet differ from those of the mantled howler.^[2]

A. c. coibensis is smaller than other Central American howler monkeys and has duller pelage than the Azuero howler, Alouatta coibensis trabeata.

Subspecies

Two subspecies of this howler have been recognized by those who consider it a separate species:

• Alouatta coibensis coibensis Thomas, 1902, found on Coiba Island and Jicaron, off the Pacific coast of Panama
• Azuero howler, A. c. trabeata Lawrence, 1933, endemic to the Azuero Peninsula in Panama.

Notes and References

1. Book: Rylands . Groves . Mittermeier . Cortes-Ortiz . Hines . amp . Estrada, A. . Garber, P.A. . Pavelka, M.S.M. . Luecke, L. . Taxonomy and Distributions of Mesoamerican Primates . New Perspectives in the Study of Mesoamerican Primates . limited . 978-0-387-25854-6 . 2006. 53 . Springer.
2. Book: The Pictorial Guide to the Living Primates. registration. Rowe, N.. 109. 1996. 0-9648825-0-7. Pogonias Press. East Hampton, N.Y..