Many people are fascinated by monkeys after seeing them in zoos or on TV or movies, and may dream of having one as a pet. Before making that commitment, however, it’s important to learn everything you can about them. Monkeys are highly social and require full commitment from owners throughout their lives. They also need much more space than most homes can provide, and they’re curious creatures that might be tempted to explore cords, leashes, cleaning products and windows. Additionally, owning a monkey might affect homeowner policies and insurance coverage.
Monkeys are diurnal (active during the day) and primarily found in rainforests. They’re social and territorial and use urinating to mark their territory. They are a highly adaptable group, able to live both in trees and on the forest floor. They’re omnivorous, eating both plants and animals, and have developed a special snout that accommodates their powerful chewing muscles and long, wide teeth.
Most monkeys are born helpless, and rely on their mothers to care for them and teach them how to survive. They are very vocal, using barks, screams, grunts, squeaks and hoots to communicate with other monkeys in their troop. They often have twin or triple births, and some species, like marmosets and tamarins, have fathers who carry infants on their backs to protect them from predators.
When purchasing a monkey from a breeder, it’s important to make sure they are USDA-licensed and have an excellent reputation in the industry. Ask for the breeder’s USDA number and look it up online to confirm their license status. It’s also a good idea to buy directly from the breeder, not through a broker.
 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    