What is a Monkey?

The word monkey may suggest a small, mischievous animal but there is much more to this intelligent primates. They are able to remember pathways in the forest and use tools to solve problems. Research from Georgia State University showed that monkeys are flexible thinkers and can learn multiple ways to accomplish a task.

Monkeys can be found in forests, grasslands, high plains and mountain places around the world. Most species spend most of their time in trees but some can also move on the ground as well. They can even be found swimming in rivers!

Like humans, monkeys are social animals. They live in troops of females with their young and either a single male (hamadryas baboons, mandrills, most guenons and some langurs) or several males (savannah baboons, macaques and most colobus monkeys). The troop members care for each other and share food but are not always close relatives. Females are ovulating all the time, but some types have a period of rest before becoming pregnant again.

In addition to being social creatures, monkeys can show a range of emotions including anger, sadness and mourning. They can even laugh! Grinning, or pulling the lip up to show the teeth, might seem like a smile to us but it is one of many signs that monkeys can use to communicate with their troopmates.

Monkeys often show their emotions through body language and vocalizations as well, using barks, screams, cries, squeaks and hoots to get their messages across. They will often look down or away when staring at another monkey because this is a sign of aggression.