What is a Monkey?

A monkey is a human-like creature who lives in the wild and often interacts with humans. It is sometimes kept as a pet and may be used in scientific research or even on space missions. It is also common for monkeys to be used as service animals for people with various disabilities. In addition, monkeys are featured in many books, TV shows and movies including the television series Monkey and the literary character Monsieur Eek and Curious George.

Like the great apes, most monkeys are highly social creatures that live in troops that consist of several females with young and one or more males. Troops typically move together by day in search of food. Within the troop, males are primarily territorial. Some species, such as the gray titi monkey, live in monogamous family units that include only adult females and their offspring.

Monkeys are known for their inquisitiveness and intelligence. They have large brains, which, combined with their freed hands, allow them to explore and manipulate their environment. They also have good vision and acute hearing. In some instances, such as with the capuchin monkeys, they spontaneously learn to use tools for obtaining food. They are not, however, as adept at problem-solving or learning from each other’s experiences as the great apes.

Monkeys communicate with each other using vocalizations, facial expressions and body language. They also groom each other to show affection, sadness and anger. For example, a grunt or scream can mean “stay away,” and staring at a fellow monkey can lead to a fight.