What Are Monkeys?

monkeys

Monkeys are a group of primate mammals that live in tropical rainforests and savannas. They can climb trees but are also found living on the ground.

In the wild, monkeys spend their time foraging for food such as leaves, fruit, and gum. They also eat insects, and their digestive tracts are designed to digest hard-to-digest foods such as leaves.

Capuchin monkeys, for example, have specialized anatomy for exploiting leaves, fruits, and other plants. They have stomachs that resemble those of ruminants, with a specialized fermentation process for converting carbohydrates into fat.

Night monkeys, meanwhile, have large brown eyes that help them see better at night and may be able to avoid predators. They often sleep in tall, isolated trees that do not touch each other, preventing them from getting too close to their prey.

Some monkeys have a special coating called tapetum lucidum that helps them see well at night. This coating also helps to reflect light, making it easier for them to detect movement.

Some monkeys, such as the gelada, are mountain dwellers and spend their time in hot springs; these monkeys also have large eyes that allow them to see in low light. Mandrills, on the other hand, are the world’s largest monkeys and grow up to 43 inches long. They are found in West Central Africa. They can weigh up to 72 pounds (33 kg).