Monkeys are curious and inquisitive creatures that are prone to mischief. But with proper early programming and consistent reinforcement, monkeys can learn to behave well in the presence of people. These skills are called monkey manners, and once a monkey has them down, it can learn much more.
Most monkeys are highly social omnivores that live in troops with sizes ranging from a few hundred to several thousand individuals, led by an adult male. Troops spend their days traveling together to find food. Most have prehensile tails that they use to hold onto branches while moving through the trees, although some monkeys can also walk on all fours (quadrupedalism) or swing arm over arm like humans (bipedalism). Monkeys typically reproduce once every two years, producing a single offspring after a two-year gestation period. They show many of the same emotions that people do, including jealousy and aversion to others’ belongings.
A monkey’s diet can also vary according to the season. For example, proboscis monkeys that spend most of the year eating leaves can shift to a diet heavy in fruit when that is in season. Some species, such as colobus monkeys, have more specialized stomachs to allow them to digest toxic foliage, the Smithsonian National Zoo reports.
A monkey that has established a relationship with someone will often remember the person and show affection toward them by grooming them. In addition, a monkey that knows its friends will be more likely to stand by them in the face of danger than one that has not built a bond with them. This type of friendship can be a major source of peace between two monkeys that may otherwise fight over food, territory or other possessions.