🐾 Monkey

Monkey

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Who it is

• Scientific name: Simiiformes (excluding apes)
• Family & relatives: Two big groups: New World monkeys of the Americas and Old World monkeys of Africa and Asia; apes are close relatives.
• How to spot it: Most have a tail, a fairly flat face, and grasping hands, unlike tailless apes.

Its body & abilities

• Size: Ranges from the tiny pygmy marmoset near 13 cm to the mandrill nearly 1 m long.
• Weight: From around 100 g in the smallest species to over 30 kg in the largest.
• Body & adaptations: Grasping hands and feet, forward-facing eyes for depth perception, and, in some American species, a gripping prehensile tail.
• Top speed: Varies by species; agile tree monkeys can move quickly, some running over 30 km/h.
• Strength: Many are strong, acrobatic climbers able to leap long distances between branches.
• Senses: Excellent color vision in many species, plus good hearing and touch.
• Growing up: Infants are usually carried by the mother and learn skills from the group as they grow.

Where it lives

• Habitat: Mostly forests, but also savannas, mountains, and even snowy regions.
• Where in the world: Tropical and some temperate regions of the Americas, Africa, and Asia.
• Territory: Many troops defend a home range and announce it with calls.

What it eats

• Diet: Mostly omnivores, eating a mix of plant and animal foods and drinking water.
• Favorite foods: Fruit, leaves, seeds, flowers, insects, and small animals depending on the species.
• How it hunts: Forage in groups, using clever hands and, in some, tools to reach food.

How it behaves

• How it moves: Climb, leap, and run on four limbs; a few species swing or walk upright at times.
• When it is active: Most are active during the day (diurnal), though the night monkey is nocturnal.
• Family life: Highly social, living in groups called troops.
• How it talks: Use calls, facial expressions, body postures, and grooming to bond and warn of danger.
• Babies: Most give birth to a single infant after a pregnancy that varies by species.

Its place in nature

• Role in nature: Important seed dispersers and prey; hunted by big cats, eagles, and snakes.
• Conservation: Status varies widely by species, from Least Concern to Critically Endangered, with habitat loss a common threat.
• Dangers: Predation, disease, and habitat loss are common causes of death.

Life & legacy

• How long it lives: Commonly 15-25 years, varying greatly by species.
• In our culture: Appear in myths, religions, and stories around the world and are studied for their intelligence.
• Where to see it: Tropical forests worldwide, wildlife reserves, and zoos.
• Fun fact: Only some New World monkeys have a prehensile tail that can grip branches like an extra hand.