Tuesday, June 30, 2026
Science

Howler monkey ancestors began eating leaves 13 million years ago, changing course of primate history in South America

Thirteen million years ago, a group of medium-sized monkeys known for guarding their territory among the treetops with fearsome "howls" started doing something new. These monkeys, among the oldest known ancestors of the modern howler monkey, started eating leaves, causing them to evolve a larger bod...

Howler monkey ancestors began eating leaves 13 million years ago, changing course of primate history in South America
Image: Phys.org
Thirteen million years ago, a group of medium-sized monkeys known for guarding their territory among the treetops with fearsome "howls" started doing something new. These monkeys, among the oldest known ancestors of the modern howler monkey, started eating leaves, causing them to evolve a larger body size and differentiate themselves from other primates, says a team of researchers led by a scientist at Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Originally published at Phys.org

The Morning Briefing

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Be the first to receive the latest news, market analysis and updates — delivered straight to your inbox.