Facts About Monkeys

Monkeys have four limbs—two arms and two legs—and their hands and feet are adapted for grasping tree branches. Their feet also allow them to swim, and some monkeys—such as owl monkeys—are active at night. Monkeys are omnivores, eating both fruits and leaves. They also disperse seeds and pollinate flowers in their native habitats.

Monkey babies spend much of their waking hours playing and climbing. Young monkeys learn to navigate their troop’s forest home and become experts at finding food from its many different sources, such as fruit, insects, leaves, bark, berries, roots, seeds, buds, and flowers. Some monkeys are expert foragers and can travel long distances to find what they need, even hopping over rivers and streams.

Most monkeys live in troops with multiple females and their offspring, along with one or more males. These groups are called harems. Males that don’t have a troop of their own may join a harem to increase their chances of mating.

Like humans, monkeys use body language to communicate with each other. For example, a monkey’s bared teeth may look like a smile but actually mean aggression. When monkeys are not well socialized, they can have serious behavioral problems, including biting and screaming.

In the wild, monkeys are very strong and can cause severe injury to people. They can also carry diseases that are dangerous to people, such as hepatitis. Keeping a monkey as a pet requires a huge financial, emotional, and time commitment that most people cannot fulfill. Some states have laws that prohibit primate ownership, and others require special permits and inspections to ensure the animal receives appropriate care.