Facts About Monkeys

Monkeys are cheeky, fast-thinking mammals whose clever tricks have entertained humans for centuries. But their quick reactions and smart thinking didn’t evolve just to amuse us – they’re essential for monkeys living in complex societies high up in the treetops.

In the wild, monkeys eat whatever’s available, from fruits to vegetables to meat and insects. Many species, including New World monkeys, have diets that tilt heavily toward plant matter. However, monkeys need protein as well, and they’ll go for it even if that means eating icky insects and lizards.

Like people, monkeys can communicate through body language and facial expressions. They may smile, or “giggle,” by extending their mouth to show their teeth, but this can also be a sign of aggression. Grinning, head bobbing, and yawning (again to show their teeth) are other ways that monkeys signal aggression or anger. On the other hand, the tail-wagging and body jerking that cotton-topped tamarins display when they want to play are signs of good will.

Primates are highly adaptable and can survive in almost any environment. They’re known to scavenge in cities for human food scraps, attack gardens and farms looking for fruit and vegetables, and swim in muddy or freezing lakes and rivers to get the nutrients they need. In the wild, monkeys can live in rainforests, desert-like savannas, or mountainous regions. Geladas and golden monkeys inhabit mountains, while Japanese macaques – nicknamed snow monkeys – have thick fur to help them live in areas that are covered with snow for most of the year.