Monkeys are clever, voracious eaters with diets that range from yummy tropical fruits to crunchy bugs. Some are even known to hunt and eat tiny lizards and birds. Their diversity is one of the reasons monkeys are so fascinating to us.
In the wild, monkeys are frugivores (fruit-eaters), and omnivores when it comes to other foods. They also hunt for protein-rich insects and other small animals, such as lizards, birds, spiders, and baby mammals.
Their prehensile tails come in handy for grabbing food as they forage. Their cheek pouches can expand to hold fruits, nuts, leaves, seeds, and flowers. And some Old World monkeys, such as the colobus monkey, have chambered stomachs that allow them to ferment and digest leaves that would otherwise be indigestible.
Some species are adapted to harsh environments, such as desert-like savannas or snowy mountains. For example, Japanese macaques, known as snow monkeys, have thick fur to withstand temperatures that can drop below freezing. And the savanna-adapted rhesus monkey can take shelter in tree hollows that provide protection and insulation.
Monkeys are very smart, and they use a variety of body language to communicate with other monkeys and humans. For instance, bared teeth can look like a smile but might actually indicate aggression or fear, Live Science reported. And their yawning might be a sign of stress.
Monkeys are often used in medical research, including testing new drugs and procedures. Marmoset monkeys, for example, have been used as the model organism for Parkinson’s disease since the discovery of MPTP, a chemical that destroys certain neurons and causes symptoms of the condition.
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