Monkeys are small, intelligent animals. They are members of the Simiiformes clade. These primates live on most of the earth’s continents. They are found in tropical rainforests and savannas. In the wild, monkeys tend to be omnivores. Their diets vary, but most species eat plants.
Monkeys are also very social. Many monkey species live in troops. A troop usually includes a male and female. Females are usually the ones that nurse young. Males are often the leaders of the group.
Some monkeys are arboreal, meaning they are able to climb trees. Others live in savannas and open wooded areas. Baboons are a type of arboreal monkey. They have long fur around the chest and a long snout.
Monkeys are sociable and use tools to communicate. However, their language is limited. For example, they are capable of combining two items in a language sequence, but cannot carry out complex conversations.
There are many different kinds of monkeys, ranging in size and shape. Many live in the Amazon rainforest of Central and South America. Other monkeys live in Antarctica.
Monkeys are often mistreated in captivity. They are killed for their fur, but they can also be used for medical research. Research into monkeys is controversial, however. Antivivisection groups have campaigned against primate research.
While monkeys are intelligent, they do not reach the cognitive level of great apes. Primate research should be regulated, and scientists should only do it when there is no alternative.