Monkeys are a diverse group of mammals that includes chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and many other species of ape. While they share an ancestor with apes, monkeys diverged from apes millions of years ago.
They are characterized by a prehensile tail that supports the entire body weight, and some have a finger-like thumb that can be pushed against other fingers to grasp small objects. The difference in manual dexterity is one of the earliest differences between monkeys and apes.
Their intelligence allows them to solve complex problems and learn from their experiences. However, they are not as advanced as apes, such as chimpanzees or gorillas.
Monkeys have long legs that are capable of tree-swinging leaps that put human acrobats to shame. These animals also eat a variety of leafy greens and flowers, as well as tropical forest fruits.
In order to digest these plants, the monkeys have a sacculated stomach that contains enlarged sections in their cecum and colon that contain fermentative bacteria. This triggers a reaction that releases energy-rich gases.
These monkeys have also been found to be able to add numbers using symbols. This is a skill that has been linked to the ability to use language, but it’s still unclear whether monkeys are able to create open-ended sentences in their language like humans can.
These monkeys are remarkably social creatures, living in troop-like groups that travel together to find food. These troops can be as large as a thousand individuals. They are most often arboreal, but some monkeys live on the ground.