Red-handed Howler Monkey

Alouatta belzebul, or red-handed howler monkeys, are found in Amazonian Brazil and surrounding regions, including the states in north-east Brazil (south Amapá, Maranhão, Pará, Tocantins, and Sergipe) and states in the Atlantic forest region (Pernambuco, Rio Grande do Norte, Piauí, Alagoas, and Paraíba). Islands in the Amazon estuary (Marajó, Mexiana, and Caviana) are also home to A. belzebul. This species has an estimated population size of less than 250 mature individuals in the Atlantic Forest, but in the Amazon this number is greater than 10,000 individuals. It is inferred that in the last three generations there was a population reduction of at least 30% due to the loss and fragmentation of habitat, hunting and urban expansion. Thus, this species was categorized as Vulnerable (VU).