Facts About Monkeys

Monkeys are a common theme in movies, TV shows and books. From Monsieur Eek and Curious George to the recent TV series Monkey, monkeys are often depicted as intelligent, comical and playful animals.

Most monkeys are omnivores, but some species are frugivores (fruit eaters) while others are primarily insectivorous or carnivorous. Whether eating fruits or insects, monkeys are generally important to their habitats because they spread the seeds of those plants as they eat, ensuring future vegetation growth.

Monkeys can be very acrobatic, often moving from one tree to another in order to obtain the food they need. They use their feet and hands to grasp branches, but they also have pouches in their cheeks that can expand to hold food. These pouches are helpful in a crisis situation where a monkey needs to quickly flee from a threat, but does not want to leave their meal behind.

In groups, monkeys share work duties and responsibilities such as foraging, raising infants, or guarding territory. This division of labor optimizes resource utilization and reduces predation risk.

During group activities, monkeys use body language to communicate. For example, a monkey bares its teeth in a way that resembles a human smile. However, this behavior actually signifies aggression or fear. Other warning signals include yawning, head bobbing and tail movements.

Primates are very social, and many monkeys have close relationships with other monkeys or humans. Some trained monkeys are used as service animals, helping people with disabilities to live more independently. The organization Helping Hands places these specially-trained monkeys with disabled people. However, most people can’t afford to pay for the training, or may not be able to care for a monkey. In addition, a pet monkey requires full commitment from its owner throughout its life.