Monkeys are wild animals that live in forest and savannah regions of the world. They can be very large, reaching over 30 pounds and more than 3 feet tall. They are not pets, they require a full commitment throughout their entire lives, and they must be kept in large group environments which aren’t conducive to the lifestyles of most people. They are carriers for serious ailments such as herpes B and can be deadly to humans if they bite. They are also known to chew on fingers and other body parts.
They eat a variety of foods including fruits, nuts, leaves, seeds, flowers, insects, birds’ eggs and small mammals like rabbits and antelope. Their prehensile tails help them hold on to branches and other objects while they gather food. Some monkeys, especially Old World species, use their tongues to grasp objects. They can be trained to work on video game-type tasks, and they are adept at puzzles. Once a task is learned, it is often self-reinforcing, and monkeys continue working on it despite the absence of food rewards.
Monkeys communicate with each other using facial expressions, vocalizations and head movements. For example, a monkey grinning with his teeth and jerking his head and shoulders forward may seem to be a sign of aggression or anger in our eyes, but in the monkey world, this signals that he will fight if he feels threatened. In addition, monkeys may show fear by raising their eyebrows.