Monkey Facts

Magnificent, mischievous, and sometimes mysterious, monkeys live in rainforests from Central Mexico to Bolivia. Most are arboreal (living in trees), but some, like macaques, baboons, and mangabeys, spend most of their time on the ground. Their long fingers and tails help them grip branches. Monkeys fill their cheek pouches with fruit, seeds, leaves, insects, and birds’ eggs to eat during the day. Some, like colobus monkeys and langurs, have chambered stomachs for fermenting leaves. Others, like snub-nosed monkeys, eat animal meat.

Monkeys are social creatures and use vocalizations, facial expressions, and body movements to communicate with each other in their large groups. For example, they look down or away when a troop member appears to be threatening another monkey; this is called deferential behavior and it often prevents fights. They also groom each other to keep their fur clean of dander, parasites, and dirt. Grooming is also a way for monkeys to express affection and to make peace with fellow troop members.

Some monkeys are kept as pets. The American Veterinary Medical Association discourages this because monkeys require full commitment throughout their lives and can be dangerous if not properly trained. Moreover, most home enclosures don’t provide enough space or foliage for monkeys to safely swing from tree to tree.

Some monkeys are trained to be service monkeys that assist people with daily tasks. For example, Corrine Peters has MS and couldn’t stand or move laundry from the washer to dryer on her own. A TV news report about a nonprofit organization that trains capuchin monkeys as service animals caught her attention.