I was in Dallas last weekend and I visited the Dallas World Aquarium and not only did they have fish they had a Red Howler Monkey. He was about the size of a small dog or large house cat but boy could he howl. It was pretty loud and I am thinking if this little guy can be heard for up to 8 miles then its no wonder Sas are so loud. They have a hyoid bone that acts as a resonator when they are doing their long calls. Below are some examples of their calls. The one I heard was just like a long sustained howl like an ambulance these are a little different than that but it shows the variety of noises they make. There is also a website with more info. They are only found in South America (hhmmm??) They are said to have developed the loudest call of any animal in the New World. Thats only because they don't count the Sas.

screaching howl

Growling and Snorting type of call

Over 3 mins of various calls

Animal Planet summary on the Red Howler

In the Nightwing tradition of responding to your own thread, I am bumping this to the top. I would like to know who the 20 or so people are who viewed my topic and said nothing. I will not be responding to any of your threads either!! So there!! Ok not really. You gotta hear the little howler dude. Now!!!

If I respond to your threads, you have to respond to mine Between the two of us, we could take over the joint!
Seriously, this and shamans thread comparing known primate calls to alleged squatch calls is really interesting.

I'm sorry LeeLoo, I am guilty of reading and not posting.

Sometimes I just can't think of anything to say, other times I just talk too much.

Ok, everybody, hush! That was not an invite for agreeing with me.

Thanks for posting the howler monkey links LeeLoo.

I'm guilty of not spotting the thread in the first place - I don't know how !

I think that over the generations, us humans have become almost deaf compared to other species - whilst we might be able to hear a sas say 8 miles away, another sas (or jack russel terrier) could probably hear him 20 miles away for all we know.

Given the terrain, these shouts seem like an excellent method of communication, but like everything else, its just speculation until we find out more.

*raises hand* Guilty as charged Your Honorable Leeloo !!!

ok, my comments (your not gonna like this ... hehe)

Yes, the howler is LOUD, has a resonate sack on his neck to increase volume. I dont think that sassi have the sack, thier size alone (lung capacity and length of vocal tract) is sufficiant to produce a loud long range call.
Also, i have not read any reports of a person witnessing anything other than a growl or bark or a scream directed at them , and they either didnt notice a sack, or there was none. *shrugs* Oh well.
I do recall a couple reports in which the animal threw back its head (thereby increasing the length of the vocal tract) and let out a long loud howl, but again, no sack . (ever notice how when a human does a loud call, the head naturally tilts back a bit ? esp people who live in rugged terrain or older hunters?)

But great post/links !!

Thanks guys, I actually am bad at viewing and not posting sometimes too. So I have no room to talk. I just thought it was interesting that that little guy sounded alot like the sas calls we have heard or that are suspected to be a Sas. So the various calls that we suspect are Sas are not unprecidented in the primate world. That was kind of my point. I was thinking it may be ammo for our side.

I've read this thread about 6 times,myself.and just now thought of something to say.I think you could be right leeloo,It could be that the howler and sas could be close kin.With a face like the howler,it would be scary on a pissant and I think (not that it counts for much)that you made a very good point about using the howler to say that the the suspected sas calls were not unheard of in the primate world..tennessee hills

Ummm.... I haven't been home and just read this now...?Or initially didn't know what to say ? ( is that a valid reason for not posting sooner ? )

I can't say a thing about you Arky I am guilty of the same thing....sometimes I can't think of anything to say and I don't say anything and sometimes I am just in from work and I read but just too tired to post....so sorry Leeloo... :|

In best DiNiro voice...

"Are you talking to me?"

"Are you talking to me?"

"Well, there's nobody else here!"

Not guilty!

Great links, Leeloo! Thanks!

Hmmm, wonder how they got the name "Howler Monkeys"?

I thought I was doing good not wasting space with my mundane thoughts but if I'm gonna get the ruler cross the back of the hand.. Honestly, I just like to read others views and try to incorporate it in with mine... But I'll try to do better.?.

PLease don't put thoughts like that in their heads, or I'm in real trouble!!!