Facts About Monkeys

A monkey is a type of primate that lives on the separate branch of evolution from apes (like chimpanzees and gorillas) and prosimians (such as lemurs and tarsiers). Monkeys have strong prehensile tails and can make use of tools. They live in a wide range of environments from tropical rainforests to desert-like savannas. In the wild, they often forage together in groups. Many species, like the Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata), or snow monkeys, have thick fur that helps them survive in northern Japan, where it can be covered with snow for up to a third of the year.

Some monkeys have pouches that can hold food they find, such as seeds or fruit. This allows them to forage more effectively and not worry about being preyed upon by other monkeys. These pouches are situated in the cheeks and can expand to about the size of their stomachs. They are especially useful for monkeys that need to forage in harsh conditions, such as in the jungle or on a hot savanna, where they may need to eat while traveling.

It’s important to know that, contrary to what you might think about monkeys from movies or zoos, food doesn’t come easy in the wild. Monkeys must climb and travel long distances throughout the day to find enough food, which burns lots of calories. They also have to work at their diets, since they are omnivorous and must take in nutrients from a variety of sources.