Monkeys are very curious animals. They love to play and explore but they also have some naughty sides too. They can be very intelligent and they are good at problem solving. They care about their friends and families too. They can be quite naughty though so it’s important to always keep a close eye on them.
They have large brains that make them highly intelligent and inquisitive. Their free hands and well-developed vision enable them to solve problems and learn from others, although they do not reach the cognitive level of the great apes. Some, such as the capuchins (genus Cebus), spontaneously use objects as tools, and others, such as baboons, can be taught to do the same.
Most monkeys live in social groups and each member contributes by helping to find food, raise the young, and watch out for predators. It is therefore crucial that they have ways of communicating with one another. This includes visual cues, such as the long tongue of a emperor tamarin signaling to her mate that she is ready to offload her babies; auditory signals, such as the howl of a howler monkey; and olfactory signals.
Some types of monkey are endangered or at risk of becoming so because people cut down the forests where they live, hunt them for meat and fur, or capture them to sell as pets. Keeping these animals in captivity can also cause trouble because they are not used to it and can be destructive.