Facts About Monkeys

Known for their inquisitive nature and intelligence, monkeys have a wide range of abilities and behaviors. They are often described as playful, but can also display emotions like fear and anger. They can even solve complex problems, like opening hard-to-reach fruit or cracking nuts. They have large brains, which they use to problem-solve and learn from experience, though they don’t quite reach the cognitive levels of the great apes (gorillas, chimpanzees, and orangutans).

Monkeys are found in many environments. Some species, such as the gelada monkey, live in mountains; other animals, such as baboons and Japanese macaques, inhabit savannas and rocky hillsides. These primates usually move through the trees using their prehensile tails for balance and to hold onto branches as they travel. However, some, such as the pied tamarin and Olalla brothers’ titi monkey, spend their time on the ground.

In the wild, monkeys generally live in a group called a troop, which may contain hundreds of individuals. These troops include a mix of females and males as well as infants and juveniles. The social bonds that develop between members of a troop help to ensure their safety.

Unlike humans, most monkeys are born helpless and are highly dependent on their parents for care in the early stages of life. Until they mature into adulthood, monkeys spend most of their time playing. This is an important way that they learn the physical and social skills they will need for the rest of their lives.