Rensch’s and Bergmann’s Rules in Cis-Andean South-American Howler Monkeys (Mammalia: Alouatta)

Howler monkeys(genus Alouatta) are large folivorousprimates living in South America. We tested for the application of both Rensch’s ruleand Bergmann’s ruleto body size variation in Alouatta. We found that Rensch’s ruledoes apply in howlers. In Alouatta, males exploit dominance rank competition, and take advantage from seasonal abundance of high nutritious fruit supply in their diet. This mating systemand dietary charateristics suggest positive male selection for body size is responsible for Rensch’s rule. However, since folivory favors large body size in primates (to lower mass specific metabolic rate) and it is the primary dietary habitus in howlers, larger species do occur in the Amazon basin, originating a reversed Bergmann’s rulepattern for both males and females at the interspecific level. The spatial and phylogenetic components of such body size patterns of variation are both important, implying Alouatta ecomorphologicaldifferences to occur above the species level, justifying their non-overlapping geographic distribution.