Monkeys are omnivores, meaning they consume both plants and animals. Their diets vary depending on where they live, but they typically include fruits, leaves, seeds, flowers, and insects.
Monkey species live in trees across all continents except Antarctica. They generally have a long, prehensile tail to help them grip branches and use as a tool to reach items. They are highly intelligent and are able to communicate using a variety of sounds. They can even imitate human speech and body language, as Live Science previously reported.
Some monkey species are herbivores, and others are carnivores or omnivores. For example, proboscis monkeys (the ones with big noses) eat only unripe fruits, while vervet monkeys eat leaves and seed pods, but also birds, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates.
Aye-aye monkeys are primarily insect eaters. They hunt evasive bugs by tapping the bark of trees with their specialized hands—using the different lengths and thicknesses of their fingers as complex tools to trap the insects.
Monkeys are social creatures that usually live in groups called troops, and there are many different troop structures. One of the most common is a one-male group, with a male leader who leads a group of females and juveniles. Another type is a multi-male group, which is more common in the wild.
In addition to eating fruit, leaves, and other vegetation, monkeys often spread the seeds of their favorite fruits as they travel around their habitat. This is important because it helps the next generation of trees grow.