Facts About the Monkey

The monkey is a very curious animal. They are very intelligent and good at problem solving. They care for their companions and can even get a little naughty too.

Most monkeys live in groups called troops. They travel together in search of food and to protect themselves from predators. The troop may consist of several females with young and their male offspring (as in hamadryas baboons, mandrills, most guenons, and langurs) or it may include one or more adult males (as in savanna baboons and macaques).

In general, monkeys are highly adaptable and can occupy many different habitats. Some species can be arboreal while others are more at home on the ground. Some monkeys have opposable thumbs, which make it easier for them to hold onto branches or food. Others have complex stomachs that let them digest leaves and other plants that their peers cannot. Some monkeys have cheek pouches that help them store food until they can find a safe place to eat it.

Monkeys are omnivorous and can eat nuts, fruit, flowers, leaves, bark, roots, vegetables, rodents, birds, and invertebrates. They can also be quite crafty when it comes to finding food. For example, some monkeys will bury a banana in the ground to prevent other animals from eating it before it is ripe. They can also use their tongues to dig into tree trunks for fruit.

Some monkeys have close relationships with humans and are kept as pets, used in laboratories, or even flown into space on NASA missions. Despite this, many monkeys are in danger of becoming extinct. Their populations are declining due to habitat loss and fragmentation, live capture for the pet trade, and hunting for bushmeat and traditional medicines.