Males throw things a lot more than females. But, since they have a horror of touching feces, they won't fling excrement, although it probably would be an effective missile.
Geezus Jacob... What is it with you??!!! Are you living in such a secluded world that you can't even do the most basic research before you post something so preposterous?
I've personally seen Howler Monkeys in Panama bombard a guy with their feces (he threw a rock at them in order to make them move so he could get a photo)..
I will tell you it was one of the funniest things I've ever seen, and the guy couldn't say I didn't warn him to leave the monkeys alone... Fortunately for me, I was wise enough to "advance to the rear" when I saw what he was going to throw something at them..
And others can confirm this behavior:
calacademy.org
A chattering and crashing of Guenon monkeys in branches directly overhead--a sudden swish--and a near-miss! I was almost hit by a most unpleasant "bomb." It was a monkey dropping. The fecal "attack" might well have been deliberate--perhaps a normal defensive tactic in the world of primates. Adrian Forsyth in his book, Portraits of the Rainforest, notes that howler monkeys have a "bombs-away" attitude toward intrusion, and are not averse to anointing naturalists and other interlopers. Primatologist Frank Carpenter saw the howlers' careful marksmanship as a sign of intelligence, remarking that "an individual would slowly approach to a place directly above me, or as nearly as possible, and then would release...."
If you care to doubt me, or your average primatologist, I suggest you take a trip to the Darien Province, Panama, and test the theory for yourself.
Hawk |
