The term monkey applies to any of the numerous mammals in the suborder Simiiformes, which includes simians (that is, primates). Most are tree-dwelling, including Old World monkeys, like baboons and colobus, and New World monkeys, like spider monkeys and marmosets. Monkeys are inquisitive, intelligent animals, and their brain development, combined with the freedom of their hands, enables them to be very resourceful. They can solve complex problems, and learn from experience. However, they do not quite reach the level of cognitive sophistication of great apes and prosimians, like gorillas and chimpanzees.
Monkeys’ bodies are designed to extract nutrition from plant parts their GI tracts can digest, but they also feed on some hard fruits and insects. Nevertheless, their diet is generally low in protein. They can survive on a diet of primarily leaves, some weird jungle fruit that is nothing like human fruits or humans’ veggies, and other greens, but they have a harder time getting adequate nutrients from cultivated plants like grains, vegetables, and seeds.
All of these differences make monkeys particularly vulnerable to hunger-related disorders, such as obesity and diabetes. But the good news is that calorie restriction in monkeys seems to improve health span, or the time until age-related diseases begin to take hold. In two recent studies, one by the National Institute on Aging and the other by University of Wisconsin researchers, monkeys were put on a diet with 30% fewer calories than control groups.
The NIA study used older monkeys, and the UW team used younger ones. Both teams nourished their test monkeys with tightly controlled rations, well above starvation levels, and enhanced their foods with vitamins and minerals.