What Is a Monkey?

A monkey is an intelligent, social animal that makes a great companion for the right person. Monkeys are part of the primate family, which also includes apes and humans. They spend most of their lives in trees and often move back and forth between land and water. Some monkeys have prehensile tails that allow them to hold onto branches, while others can move on all fours or use arm swinging to get around (bipedalism).

Most of the monkeys in captivity in the United States are in trees, but some live on the ground, such as geladas and Japanese macaques. Some are mountain dwellers, such as the golden monkeys and the baboons. Some are found in hot springs, such as the savanna-dwelling baboons, which find comfort in sitting in warm, mineral-rich waters.

Monkeys are omnivores, eating both fruits and vegetables. They can tell which plants are poisonous, so they often smell or taste the plants before deciding whether to eat them. They also eat leaves, flowers, seeds and nuts. They also consume insects to satisfy their demand for protein. This diversity in diet enables monkeys to adjust to seasonal changes in food availability.

When monkeys are in the wild, they spend most of their time foraging and consuming food. This is one of the most important parts of their day, as it provides them with the nutrients they need for good health and muscular growth.