16 Monkeys That Are Almost Completely Black and Where They Live

Quick Take

• One of these black monkeys is so frequently misidentified as an ape that even experienced observers get it wrong, a mistake that comes down to a single unusual physical trait.
• At least one species on this list is born a completely different color, and the transformation it undergoes is striking enough to make you question whether you're looking at the same animal.
• For one species, males and females look so different from each other that they've been mistaken for entirely separate species, and yet both make this list.
• The smallest monkey here tips the scales at a weight that would shock most people who picture a primate, and on top of that it is entirely black from skin to fur.

There are over 300 different species of monkeys in the world, belonging to 6 families and 43 genera. Most monkeys live in the tropical rainforests of Central and South America, Asia, and Africa, but some species live in the savannas, and even in the mountains. Monkeys come in a wide range of sizes and colors. While there are hundreds of monkey species with partially black coloration, only a few are almost completely black. Learn more about these black monkeys, including what they look like and where they live.

1. Amazon Black Howler (Alouatta nigerrima)

Amazon black howler monkeys inhabit the rainforests of the Amazon River basin in Brazil. They have black skin and fur. These howler monkeys can reach a height of 22 to 36 inches, with prehensile tails that can be as long as their bodies. They generally weigh from 9 to 18 pounds, with females typically being about 25% smaller than the males.

2. West Javan Ebony Langur (Trachypithecus mauritius)

West Javan ebony langurs are Old World monkeys endemic to the forests on the island of Java in Indonesia. These monkeys have black hair over almost all of their bodies. Their hair radiates away from their faces, making them appear as if they have bangs, sideburns, and a beard. They are born with golden orange coats that turn black as they mature. West Javan ebony langurs measure 17 to 26 inches, with their tails adding another 24 to 34 inches. Males are estimated to weigh around 29 pounds, while females weigh around 22 pounds.

3. Black-Bearded Saki (Chiropotes satanas)

The black-bearded Saki inhabits the rainforests of Brazil’s eastern Amazonia. Males measure 15 to 16.5 inches and weigh between 5.5 and 8.8 pounds. Females average 13.4 to 15.4 inches and weigh between 4.4 and 7.7 pounds. Tail length is similar among the sexes, ranging from 14.2 to 16.5 inches. Both males and females have beards and puffy hair covering the muscles on either side of the top of their heads. Males have thicker, longer beards and more pronounced head bulges.

4. Black Capuchin (Sapajus nigritus)

Black capuchins, also known as black-horned capuchins, are endemic to the Atlantic Forest from southeastern Brazil down to northeastern Argentina. These monkeys are mostly black, but they have paler bellies and white patches on their faces. They generally inhabit the middle and lower canopy at elevations ranging from 984 to 3,280 feet. These monkeys measure 12.60 to 21.65 inches in length and weigh from 4.41 to 7.27 pounds. The average size of their prehensile tails is approximately 14 to 20 inches.

5. Black Spider Monkey (Ateles paniscus)

Black spider monkeys are endemic to South America, north of the Amazon River. They weigh up to 20 pounds and measure up to 21 inches, excluding their tails. Their tails are longer than their bodies, and they use them as a fifth limb to swing from trees and hold objects. They are covered in black hair except for their face, hands, and feet.

6. Raffles’ Banded Langur (Presbytis femoralis)

Raffles’ banded langurs inhabit small pockets of humid tropical jungles on the southern tip of Malaysia and the island of Singapore. Adult langurs generally weigh from 13 to 18 pounds and measure 1 to 2 feet, not including their tail. Their tails are longer than their bodies, measuring up to 2.6 feet. They have dark hair all over their bodies, except for greyish-white hair on their bellies and inner thighs and white eye rings. Baby Raffles’ banded langurs are born with white hair that darkens with age.

7. Black Colobus (Colobus satanas)

The black colobus, also known as the satanic black colobus, lives high in the canopy of the rainforests in western central Africa. They typically measure 19 to 27 inches, with a tail that can reach 31 inches in length. Males generally weigh between 22 and 33 pounds, while females weigh 10-11 pounds. They have black skin and black hair all over their bodies, which tends to stick up on their heads.

8. Black-Crested Mangabey (Lophocebus aterrimus)

Black-crested mangabeys are found in small patches of rainforest in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They weigh from 9 to 22 pounds, with females being slightly smaller. These monkeys generally measure from 15 to 28 inches in head-to-body length, with their tails measuring up to 30 inches. They have black skin and black fur with a tuft on top of their heads. White whiskers curl around their cheeks.

9. Black-Mantled Tamarin (Saguinus nigricollis)

Black-mantled tamarins have a wide range stretching from the Amazon rainforest in western Brazil, to southeastern Colombia, northeastern Peru, and eastern Ecuador. They inhabit both wet and dry forests, depending on the available habitat. They are small monkeys, measuring from 8.3 to 9.8 inches, with tails that measure 12.2 to 13.8 inches. They generally weigh between 10.6 and 14.1 ounces. Their fur is primarily black, but they may have a reddish tint on their lower backs. Their hands, feet, ears, and tails are all black, and they have greyish-white muzzles.

10. Crested Black Macaque (Macaca nigra)

The crested black macaque, also known as the Celebes crested macaque, lives in the forests of Sulawesi and the islands of Pulau Manadotua and Pulau Talise in Indonesia. There is also an introduced population on Pulau Bacan, in the Maluku Islands. They have black faces and black fur all over their bodies. They weigh from 11.01 to 39.65 pounds and measure 17.52 to 22.44 inches in length, with males being larger. They have short tails that measure an inch or less, so they are sometimes misidentified as apes.

11. Goeldi’s Marmoset (Callimico goeldii)

Goeldi’s marmoset, or Goeldi’s monkey, inhabits parts of the Amazon rainforest in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, and Bolivia. These small monkeys measure 8 to 9 inches in length, not including their tails, which typically measure 10 to 13 inches long. Males weigh an average of 12.9 ounces, while females average about 12.5 ounces. Goeldi’s marmosets have shaggy black hair all over their bodies.

12. Peruvian Black Spider Monkey (Ateles chamek)

Peruvian spider monkeys, also called black-faced black spider monkeys, generally inhabit semi-deciduous lowland forests in parts of Peru, Brazil, and Bolivia. Males can weigh up to around 15 pounds, while females can weigh up to around 11 pounds. They measure from 16 to 24 inches, with a prehensile tail that can reach nearly 35 inches in length. They have black fur covering their bodies. While most have black faces, some individuals display pinkish skin around their eyes, nose, and mouth.

13. Yucatán Black Howler (Alouatta pigra)

The Yucatán black howler is the largest howler monkey species. They inhabit tropical rainforests, broadleaf forests, and riparian forests in Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize. These howlers can reach 24 inches in length, with their prehensile tails adding another 36 inches. Their maximum weight is between 15 and 25 pounds, with females being smaller. Male weight can also vary depending on geographical distribution. They have black faces and long black hair. Males and females both have beards, but males’ beards are longer.

14. Black Howler Monkey (Alouatta caraya)

Black howler monkeys are also called black and gold howler monkeys, as the males are black and the females are a golden brown color. The faces of both sexes are black. These howlers live in a wide variety of forest types in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay. They may also inhabit Uruguay, but there is little research on their occurrence there. Males can reach 24 to 26 inches in length and weigh 13 to 17 pounds, while females reach up to 20 inches and average around 10 pounds. Their prehensile tails can add another 30 inches to their length.

15. Gorontalo Macaque (Macaca nigrescens)

Gorontalo macaques are native to the lowland and montane tropical forests on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia. They are found in the central part of the island’s northern peninsula. Their range includes a significant part of the province of Gorontalo, from which their name originates. Males are estimated to average around 13 pounds and measure 23 inches in head and body length. Females are only slightly smaller. They have short tails, reaching only about an inch in length, with males’ tails being slightly longer. They have black skin and black hair, but their hair lies down flat, unlike their cousins, the crested black macaques.

16. Black-Handed Tamarin (Saguinus niger)

Black-handed tamarins, also called black tamarins, are endemic to the lowland forests of the Brazilian Amazon. These monkeys are very small, reaching only around 1 pound. These monkeys are estimated to measure 9 to 11 inches in head to body length, with a tail length of 13.8 to 16.5 inches. Their hair is shaggy, smooth, and glossy black, and they also have black skin.