With their long tails, grasping hands and cheeky expressions, monkeys are one of the most well-known animals in the world. But while they may look human, there are some important differences. Monkeys belong to the animal group simiiformes, which includes mammals that range in size from tiny pygmy marmosets to giant lowland gorillas. But the term “monkey” is often used to refer to only a subset of this group.
Most monkeys are mostly arboreal, leaping from limb to limb in their travels among the trees. But they can also walk on the ground, using all four limbs. They are omnivorous, eating both plants and other animals. They use their long arms to help them hold onto branches as they eat. Some species have pouches in their cheeks that they can fill with food and move to safety before eating it.
Monkeys are extremely intelligent, and they can be taught to do many different types of things. But they need to be properly trained early in life and must have the maturity to learn what is being asked of them. If they aren’t given this, they can quickly become destructive and violent.
Monkeys communicate with each other through facial expressions and sound, such as barking, whining and howling. They can use the different pitches to warn each other of danger, call a mate or simply chat with other members of their group. Monkeys can even howl so loud that their voice can be heard from 10 miles away, which is why they are sometimes known as howler monkeys.