Facts About Monkeys

Monkeys are fascinating animals that seem to have a lot in common with humans. They communicate with facial expressions and body movements as well as vocalizations, such as barks, screams, grunts, squeaks, hoots, wails, and deep howls. They also learn from one another, often passing along solutions to problems in their troop or family. And, like people, monkeys are known to experience a wide range of emotions—they can love, be angry, and even laugh!

Most species of monkey are arboreal, spending much of their lives in trees. They have many adaptations for this lifestyle, such as gripping hands and fingers with opposable thumbs that help them climb and move around the tree canopy. They have forward-facing eyes and flat noses that help them see and smell their surroundings. And, they can move their tails back and forth to control their balance as they climb.

They spend a lot of their time collecting food, so their prehensile tails are handy for holding on while they reach up to grab leaves, fruits, flowers, nuts, seeds, and insects. Some Old World monkeys, such as baboons and macaques, have cheek pouches that allow them to quickly collect and store foods they find while foraging. They also have chambered stomachs that help them ferment and digest leaves.

In addition to the foods they eat, monkeys consume a lot of water. They get most of their water from the plants they eat, but some monkeys go to rivers and streams to drink. To hydrate themselves, they may use their tongues to lap up the water or fold leaves into cups that they can hold with their hands.