Facts About Monkeys

Monkeys are intelligent creatures that are capable of solving problems and adapting to new situations. They are often found in warm, wet tropical rainforests where they can hunt for food and spread seeds, making them an important part of the ecosystem.

Some monkey species are carnivorous, eating snails, lizards, birds’ eggs, and other small vertebrates. Other monkeys are frugivorous, eating fruit and leaves. Still others are omnivorous, combining aspects of both the carnivorous and frugivorous diets. Mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx), from West Central Africa, are the largest monkey species, growing to more than 43.3 inches (110 centimeters) in length and weighing up to 72 pounds (33.6 kilograms).

In the wild, monkeys eat fruits, leaves, flowers, nuts, seeds, and even insects and bird’s eggs. They also use their long, prehensile tails to grip branches as they forage for food. They are often seen in groups, called troops, which may number up to 1,000 individuals. These groups are made up of adult males, females, and their offspring. Males without offspring, or bachelors, form harems with other adult males.

While it is tempting to feed monkeys human foods like bananas, it is not recommended because it can cause them to rely on humans for food. This can be dangerous to their health, and it will make them less likely to hunt for food in the wild. Plus, most of us don’t have the space in our homes to give a monkey the habitat it needs. In addition, human food can have ingredients that are toxic to monkeys and other animals.