Monkeys are primates that live in groups. These groups are called a troop. They have a variety of social systems and many different troop structures. Most monkeys are frugivorous, but some eat insects and other small animals.
They spend much of their time in trees, but can also be found on the ground and even on rocks. Monkeys use their tails to help balance themselves as they move through the tree canopy. Some monkeys have prehensile tails that allow them to grip onto branches as they move. They can also swing from branch to branch. They may eat the leaves of plants, but also twigs and bark as well as other things that grow on trees like grass and mushrooms. They also eat other creatures that are on the ground, including termites and spiders, and in the air, such as lizards and birds.
Monkeys will use their paws to pick at items on the ground or in water and they also use their teeth to bite. They often grumble or make loud noises, like a colobus’ roar or a blue monkey’s pyow, to communicate with other monkeys. They can also yawn or pull their lips up to show their teeth in a way that looks like a smile.
They are curious creatures that can get into everything, including cords, leashes, cleaning products and windows. They are usually not house trained and cannot be potty trained, so they may create messy accidents that can be very dangerous for them and their human companions. They also need to be around other monkeys a lot of the time and don’t do well alone. Isolating monkeys from their groups can lead to serious behavioral problems that cannot be reversed.