Today’s topic is monkeys, so what is a monkey, well a monkey is
a tailed primate, excluding lemurs, tarsiers, and lorises. They are different
from apes because apes do not have tails. Monkeys have narrow chests and
specific skeletal features that distinguish them from apes. Most monkey
species, of which there are nearly 200, reside in tropical forests and move on
all four limbs.
Monkeys are divided into two main groups: Old World and New
World monkeys. Old World monkeys belong to the family Cercopithecidae, while
New World monkeys are platyrrhines, comprising five families. These groups are
distinguished by their noses: New World monkeys have broad noses with wide
septums and outward-facing nostrils, while Old World monkeys have narrow noses
with thin septums and downward-facing nostrils.
Most monkeys have good problem-solving skills and can learn from
experience, but they do not reach the cognitive levels of great apes. Monkeys
are highly social animals that live in troops.
Monkeys are found in the wild in many countries across Africa,
Asia, and the Americas. While they are most prevalent in tropical rainforests,
some species have adapted to live in other environments, including snowy
mountains and urban areas.
How long do they live well that differs depending on the
species, their environment (wild vs. captivity), and other factors. However, in
general in the wild most live between 15-30yrs, baboons, can live up to 40yrs.
Monkeys in captivity often live much longer than their wild
counterparts due to protection from predators, disease, and competition for
food. It's common for monkeys in zoos or research centres to live well into
their 30’s or 40’s.
Monkeys are highly adaptable omnivores, and their diet can vary
significantly depending on the species, their habitat, and the season. While
the image of a monkey eating a banana is iconic, it's not a primary food source
for many wild species, and their diets are much more diverse.
They are opportunistic eaters, and their diet reflects their
ability to adapt to their surroundings and take advantage of any available food
source. They eat a large variety of fruits and not just bananas, they also eat
berries, mangos and figs to name a few. They also eat nuts and seeds, some are
able to crack open hard nuts and seeds.
Many monkeys, especially larger species like howler monkeys and
colobus monkeys, have specialized digestive systems to process fibrous plant
material.
They get crucial protein from a variety of animal sources, such as
invertebrates like ants, termites, caterpillars, and spiders, as well as small
vertebrates like lizards, frogs, bird eggs, and even small birds and rodents.
My friend Margie used to have a monkey years ago before I knew her. They also had a Lion. When they moved they have him to an animal trainer who worked in Hollywood. She and her husband used to have many exotic wild animals.
ReplyDeleteYou note that the monkeys have good problem-solving skills and can learn from experience, but they do not reach the cognitive levels of great apes. However I would add that monkeys are much cuter.
ReplyDeleteLove watching monkeys, Jo-Anne.
ReplyDelete