Monkey Facts

• You can find monkey facts on two hundred different species of the animal.

• All of the 200 different species of monkeys fall into two categories: Old World Monkeys (Cercopithecoidea) and New World Monkeys (Ceboidea).

• Old World Monkeys are larger and inhabit Africa, India, central & southern Asia, and Japan. New World Monkeys live in Central & South America, and Mexico.

• Physically, monkeys have many of the same organs and functions as humans.

• The way to tell the difference between a monkey and an ape is that monkeys have tails and apes do not.

• Monkeys like to live in the warmth of tropical and subtropical climates.

• Monkeys do not swing hand over hand on tree branches like apes, they run on all fours.

• The reproduction system of monkeys is mostly like humans.

• Monkeys give birth to one offspring--they do not have twins or multiple babies.

• Old World Monkeys more closely resemble apes--many do not have tails and they have cheek pouches for holding food.

• Old World Monkeys have 32 teeth. New World Monkeys have 36.

• Monkey’s are a social animal, living in groups that are called troops.

• Monkey’s never catch colds.

• Spider monkeys will drop heavy branches from trees to protect them if being pursued.

• There is a monkey known as a Howler Monkey, who howls as the name implies.

• Howler Monkeys can be heard as far away as two miles.

• Hands and feet of monkeys are made for grasping much the same as human hands.

• Troops of monkeys can have several thousand members who travel together.

• Monkeys have the ability to see in color.

• Monkeys show affection for one another by cleaning their coats.

• Check out these monkey facts: The Lion-tailed Macaque is a breed of monkey that has a mane around its neck like a lion. The tail on the Lion-tailed Macaque is two feet long.

• Monkeys are one of few animals to be able to sit in an upright position.

• New World Monkeys do not have thumbs.

• Old World Monkeys have one nostril, New World Monkeys have two.

• Monkeys are very territorial.

• A monkey’s diet consists of fruit, grass, leaves, spiders and insects.

• Monkeys do not make good pets.

• Monkeys are not nocturnal, they are active during daylight.

• Some species of monkeys can use their tails to grab onto objects.

• Monkeys communicate with one another through their voice and body movements.

• An upset monkey will jerk his head back and forth and pull at his lip.

• The majority of monkeys live in trees but some do live on the ground.

• Monkeys live in both mountains and grassy plains.

• Many monkeys prefer to live in the rainforest for its warmth.

• Monkeys have strong tails and can hang--supporting their entire body weight with their tail.

• The largest monkey is the Mandrill.

• Monkey facts indicate that the smallest monkey is a Pygmy Marmoset.

• A monkey kept in captivity can live to be as old as 45 years.