I saw this story today and just had to change the planned blog.
This six-week-old baby Howler Monkey was revealed to the public for the first time at Edinburgh Zoo. The full story can be found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-10687938 as can the picture.
These monkeys hail from the forests of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay. The male Howler Monkeys, according to National Geographic, ‘have large throats and specialized, shell-like vocal chambers that help to turn up the volume on their distinctive call.’ This apparently makes them the loudest animal on the earth and their howls can be heard for up to 3 miles away.
But they haven’t heard Costa. I’m not aware of Costa having modified vocal apparatus but when he is in full shout he can be heard around our whole street, just ask our neighbours. We have had to resort to locking him down at night so he doesn’t disturb any one. His strange peacock like cry echoes through the night if we don’t. Not only is he loud he is as regular as a church bell ringing every hour, not on the hour mind you, but certainly at hourly intervals. As I’ve said before I think we get away with it because he doesn’t sound like a cat. I can hear you say that your street can’t be three miles long so there isn’t any comparison. But there is.
When we compare strength among animals, ants are rolled out as superheros due to their ability to lift 5 times their own body weight. Howler Monkeys from my very brief unscientific research are on average at least three and a half times the size of Costa which probably means that they have a much larger lung capacity than Costa. So far so good but the comparison loses ground due to the Howler Monkey having modified vocals. For that reason the Howler Monkey should be disqualified.
All things considered I think that pound for pound Costa must be the loudest animal on the planet. At 4.00 am, usually after he has cleared his throat with a couple of mini – shouts, when he decides to offer one of his Pavarotti type vocals I defy anyone to say he is not the loudest animal on the planet. Our neighbours will, I’m sure, support our position on this. They may, of course, wish to compare notes with those people who stay near Edinburgh Zoo but in the early hours if we haven’t locked Costa down, the debate may well be a little academic.
Rhumtetum
Leave a comment