Monkeys Are Smart, Voracious Eaters

Monkeys are smart, voracious eaters with diets that range from yummy tropical fruits to crunchy bugs. Watch them in the wild or at zoos from a safe distance—and never feed them human food, which can make them sick.

In the wild, monkeys forage in groups or in pairs and often spend part of their day grooming themselves. This ritual may help them build relationships and communicate with one another, but also serves to ward off parasites. Monkeys with long tails can use them to reach high branches and pick fruits, especially those that are hard to grasp.

Most monkey species are diurnal (active during the day), but some are nocturnal and eat all night. Some eat only fruits, while others consume both plants and animals. A monkey’s diet depends on its environment—forests have more fruits than savannahs, for example.

If a monkey grabs on to you, don’t try to wriggle free. Instead, walk calmly away and don’t smile at the monkey, which they interpret as a threat. “A big toothy grin is an invitation to tangle,” says Scott Gamerl, a primatologist at the Topeka Zoo who has studied human/macaque interactions.

Most monkeys used for research are macaques or marmosets. These animals are important for many scientific advances, including polio vaccines, life support systems for premature babies and deep brain stimulation for Parkinson’s disease. In addition, monkeys are used to study infectious diseases and to develop new drugs for HIV/AIDS, malaria and other conditions.