How Monkeys Communicate With One Another

monkeys

Monkeys are curious, playful creatures whose innocence and joy are contagious to observers. They are often seen inspecting objects before tossing them around with glee or imitating human movements.

In the wild, monkeys live in large social groups with members doing everything from defending food sources to raising young and watching for predators. Such a complex lifestyle requires an effective communication system, so these primates have evolved several ways to influence and inform each other, including visual cues and auditory calls.

For example, a male putty-nosed monkey uses two different loud call types to communicate with females, who respond by changing their own call type or retreating from the area. The resulting sequence conveys a specific meaning, such as “move away.”

Many species of monkeys also display some level of body language that resembles human behavior, like bared teeth or head bobbing. But these behaviors can have very different meanings in monkeys, as Live Science reported in 2019. For instance, a bared jaw may look like a smile to us, but it’s a sign of aggression or fear for a monkey.

Most of the monkeys people keep as pets are from New World species, such as marmosets, tamarins, and capuchins. They typically form monogamous pairs and exhibit substantial paternal care, in contrast to Old World monkeys, which have polygynous groups.

It’s important to remember that even if you decide to raise a monkey, this is a significant responsibility. These animals are wild and can be aggressive and dangerous, so you should only consider this path after careful consideration and with the help of a veterinarian who understands monkeys’ special needs.