Monkeys are clever, social animals. They are members of the primate group of mammals, which includes apes and humans. There are roughly 200 different species of monkeys.
They are found primarily in tropical rainforests. Most are arboreal, though some, like macaques and baboons, are terrestrial. Scientists classify them as Old World monkeys or New World monkeys.
New World monkeys, like spider monkeys, tamarins, and capuchins, are found in Mexico and South and Central America, while Old World monkeys, including baboons, gelada, and colobus, are found in Asia and Africa. Many species of monkeys are endangered.
On this list, we present to you some fascinating or amazing facts about monkeys, catch the moment below.
1. Monkey is a familiar name for a group of primate mammals.
2. Monkeys live in the trees and the lands.
3. Most monkeys have tails.
4. Groups of monkeys are known as a mission, tribe, or troop.
5. Diseases can be distributed to people by monkeys.
6. All monkeys have opposable thumbs.
7. The common cold does not affect monkeys.
8. Some monkeys like it cold.
9. Apes are not Monkeys.
10. New World monkeys have prehensile tails for grasping branches and other items. On the other hand, Old World monkeys have shorter tails, which are unsuitable for holding things.
11. Spider monkeys have a bare skin patch on their tail with a unique pattern of grooves resembling fingerprints.
12. Monkeys love their rest and, on average, spend more time asleep than humans. Some species, like the three-striped night monkey, sleep up to 17 hours daily.
13. Monkeys build community relationships by caring for one another. They help each other stay clean by removing parasites and dirt.
14. White-faced capuchin monkeys have an odd way of bonding. They sometimes pull out each other’s hair, force open their jaws, and poke fingers into their nostrils.
15. Of all monkeys in the wild, baboons live the longest, ranging from 35 to 40 years.
16. Titi monkeys are devoted lovers, spending all their lives with one mate.
17. Barbary macaques are usually led by a strong female monkey caring for the entire group.
18. Monkeys love bananas but also love eating other fruits, nuts, and seeds in the forest. Their diet also includes tiny insects, lizards, and eggs.
19. Patas monkeys can easily run at speeds of up to 34 miles per hour (55 km/hr). This makes them the fastest monkeys in the world.
20. The long-tailed macaques of Bali are smart enough to identify expensive items and steal them from unsuspecting tourists exploring the Uluwatu temple.
21. Monkeys are among the few animals besides humans that can identify their reflection in the mirror.
22. Howler monkeys are the loudest but are only the size of small dogs such as pugs. Their large hyoid bones help them roar loud enough to be heard up to three miles (4.8 km) away.
23. The male proboscis monkey’s large nose, which can grow longer than four inches (10 cm), is how they secure a mate.
24. Not all monkeys are great tree climbers; some prefer hanging out on the ground. One such species is the gelada monkey, which lives in the peaks of Ethiopia.
25. Monkeys are usually not great swimmers, but some, like proboscis monkeys and some macaques, are great divers.
26. The bright red face of the bald uakari monkey is a sign of good health and helps it attract mates. But if they look paler than usual, it could mean they’re ill.
27. Monkeys typically have a sweet tooth, but a few, like the Asian colobine monkeys, don’t.
28. Monkeys are smart enough to solve math problems like counting numbers and adding.
29. Monkeys grieve the loss of a troop member, and mothers sometimes mourn by carrying their deceased infants for weeks.
30. When a monkey grins or blows a kiss at you, it’s not a sign of affection. Rather, it usually means they’re angry, so you may want to step back.
