Monkeys have fascinated humans for centuries with their inquisitive nature and playful antics. Their fast reactions and smart thinking didn’t evolve just for our amusement, though – they are essential adaptations to life in the wild.
Most monkeys are highly social creatures and live in groups called troops. Some species have one male leader (hamadryas baboons, mandrills, most guenons and langurs) while others, like vervets, have a harem system with multiple males of varying ranks. The troop structure is vital for monkeys as they can avoid predators and gather food. They also rely on their troops to raise infants and help them find food, shelter and mates.
A monkey’s dexterous fingers help them grab onto branches, manipulate objects to find or make food and even use tools. They can communicate with gestures and vocalisations including grunts, squeaks, whistles, howls and barks. Grooming is also a way for monkeys to show affection and make peace with other members of their troop.
As a general rule, monkeys are good at problem-solving and learning from experience, but they don’t have the advanced cognitive abilities of the great apes (gorillas, chimpanzees and orangutans). Some species, such as marmosets and tamarins, spontaneously use tools while others learn them through positive reinforcement training.
Many types of monkey are kept as pets, used in research laboratories and on space missions. They are also trained to perform tasks for disabled people, such as retrieving dropped items and helping them drink or reach for things. This is done by rewarding desired behaviours and removing the reward if the animal does not respond in the appropriate way. All monkeys used in research in Great Britain are the offspring of captive individuals and do not come from the wild, as it is illegal to conduct experiments on wild-caught animals.
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