We explain everything about the monkey, where it lives, what it feeds on and other characteristics. Also, how is its reproduction and how long does it live.
What are monkeys?
With the term monkey we usually refer colloquially to any of the 200 known species of tailed primates classifiable as platyrrhines (New World monkeys) or cercopithecoids (Old World monkeys), since they can lead very different life patterns from each other, depending on the habitat and the species.
Monkeys are sociable mammals of medium intelligence, who are part of our closest evolutionary relatives something that is obvious given the physical similarities they present with the human body.
For this reason, it is important to distinguish between monkeys and hominoid apes, such as orangutans, gorillas, chimpanzees or gibbons, primates that are much closer in evolution to humans. The difference between them has to do with the presence in monkeys of a tail and a more primitive and smaller skeleton.
However, monkeys share many fundamental characteristics with the rest of the primates (including humans), such as their slower development than other mammals of similar size, later maturity and a longer life expectancy. , in addition to a more active social life.
In fact, the possibility of zoonosis, that is, the transmission of diseases between monkeys and humans is evidence of the degree of similarity of our physiological systems.
Characteristics of monkeys
Broadly speaking, monkeys are characterized by the following traits:
- As we have said before, they should be classified into Old World Monkeys (cercopithecidae) and New World Monkeys (platyrrhines). Each group has its own characteristics, because Evolution pushed them down different paths as they were geographically separated for 135 million years.
- They are animals mammals, equipped with four prehensile limbs and a tail with a body covered in diverse fur. Their size tends to be small to medium (in the case of platyrrhines) or medium to large (in the case of cercopithecids).
- have five-fingered hands, lacking claws and equipped with an opposable thumb which allows them to hold on to tree branches and, eventually, grab instruments. Similarly, their tails can be prehensile (platyrrhines) or non-prehensile (cercopithecids).
- They present a human-like dentition: three molars, two incisors and one fang on each side of the mouth.
- have great visual capacity predominant sense compared to the others, followed by hearing and lastly smell. The eyes are large and directed forward, allowing stereoscopic vision.
- are social animals which form packs with different levels of organization and hierarchy.
Where do monkeys live?
The monkeys have a wild presence in America, Asia and Africa, and the vast majority inhabit jungles and forests dense, although many species have adapted to life in the large savannahs. Old World monkeys (cercopithecids) live in Africa, Asia and regions of the Middle East; while New World monkeys (platyrrhines) live on the American continent.
What do monkeys eat?
In general, like the rest of the primates, monkeys have a omnivorous and opportunistic feeding which chooses very varied food sources.
The vast majority compose their diet from products typical of jungle vegetation, such as fruits, leaves, shoots, flowers, stems, seeds and resins, with special emphasis on insects to obtain nutrients present in the animal organism. However, there are species adapted to eating meat, for which they hunt small rodents, birds, lizards, bats, squirrels and even snakes.
How do monkeys reproduce?
The reproduction of monkeys It is always sexual and viviparous, very similar to the human. Their pregnancies are long and lactation lasts, and in each birth very few offspring (one or two) are usually born.
How long do monkeys live?
The life expectancy of monkeys in the wild can vary immensely depending on the species. The smallest ones can live around 15 to 20 years, while the largest species can live about 35 to 45 years. It is possible that in an ideal captivity these periods would be a little longer.
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References
- “Monkey” on Wikipedia.
- “Primates” on Wikipedia.
- “Monkeys” in National Geographic.
- “Monkey” at San Diego Zoo (USA).
- “Monkey (primate)” in The Encyclopaedia Britannica.
