Facts About Monkeys

monkeys

Monkeys are fascinating creatures that can be funny, intelligent, and scary all at once. They are a part of the simian family and can be found in many parts of the world including New World monkeys (found in Mexico, Central America, and South America) and Old World monkeys (found in Africa, Asia, and Europe).

Monkeis are small to medium-sized primates that are usually tree dwellers. They cling to branches and often walk on all fours (quadrupedalism). Some monkeys have tails that they use to grasp and hold onto objects. Monkeys can also move by swinging from branch to branch and by using their arms for balance and movement.

The majority of monkeys are vegetarian but some are omnivorous and will eat seeds, flowers, roots, fruits, leaves, bark, and even rodents and insects. They are also known to eat agricultural crops like bananas.

While monkeys can’t speak, they communicate with other members of their troop and with humans via body language. For instance, some monkeys will bare their teeth which may look like a smile to us but is actually a sign of aggression or fear, Live Science reports. Other monkey body languages include yawning and head bobbing.

In the wild, monkeys are generally solitary creatures but they will sometimes form groups with other monkeys called a troop. Some troops consist of all females, while others are composed of a single male with a group of females who he mates with.