Facts About Monkeys

The word “monkey” usually brings to mind a banana-eating, tree-dwelling creature—but these animals are far more diverse. Most monkey species are omnivorous and will eat nuts, fruits, leaves, flowers, bark, roots, vegetables, rodents, birds and invertebrates. They are skilled at hunting and will sometimes scavenge on the ground as well. Monkeys are extremely social and communicate through facial expressions, body movements and noises. They will clap together, bang stones on the ground, rub their faces and smack their lips. They can use sounds to identify different types of predators. They will often make “warning” calls to alert troop members to approaching predators.

Monkeys are highly intelligent and can even learn to use tools. They are often playful and can be mischievous, but they also have the strength to inflict serious injuries on humans. They can carry diseases that are dangerous to people, including tuberculosis and hepatitis B. They can also be deadly to other monkeys, if they see them as a threat to their territory or resources.

Many monkey species are endangered, with habitat loss and live capture for the global pet trade being the biggest reasons. Some have also been introduced into new locations, disrupting the natural ecosystem and causing problems for local wildlife. Like other primates, monkeys are good climbers and have a skeleton built for walking on all fours (quadrupedalism). Old World monkeys—including spider monkeys, tamarins and capuchins—have prehensile tails that can grasp branches, while New World monkeys have more slim hips and shorter legs. Most monkeys sit down fully on their buttocks, but some species, such as the mandrill and baboon, have more flexed haunches, similar to dogs’.