About Monkeys

Monkeys come in a variety of sizes from the very small to the very large. They can be found throughout the world and even in some people's homes. They are intelligent, social animals, just like humans, which may be why many people are drawn to them and why they are so popular on television. However, most monkeys that we see on television aren't actually monkeys at all.

Types

Monkeys are separated into two different types: Old World monkeys and New World monkeys. The Old World monkeys are from the Ceropithecoidea super family. These include baboons and macaques. The New World monkeys are the Cebidae (marmosets, tamarins, capuchins), Aotidae (night monkeys and owl monkeys), Pethiciidae (titis and uakaris) and Atelidae (such as howler monkeys, spider monkeys and woolly monkeys).

Geography

Cebidae monkeys are considered arboreal and don't travel on the ground. There are 56 species of them, and they are usually found in the tropical areas of South and Central America. Aotidae monkeys also tend to live at higher elevations. They, too, live in South and Central America. Pethiciidae are usually found in tropical forests. Most species can be found in the Amazon. Atelidae can be found in the dense rain forest areas of South America. Old World monkeys are found in a variety of environments in both Africa and Asia.

Identification

Monkeys range in size from the pygmy marmoset, which weighs only 5 ounces, all the way up to the mandrills, which can weigh 77 pounds. Most of the New World monkeys have a prehensile tail, which allows them to be able to grasp and hold objects, while most Old World monkeys either have no tail at all or a non-prehensile tail.

Misconceptions

People sometimes mistakenly refer to apes as monkeys. This is incorrect as they actually belong to a different family, Hominoidea. However, both apes and monkeys belong to the larger infraorder, Simiiformes, meaning that apes, monkeys and humans are Simians.

Considerations

There are those who are drawn to keeping monkeys as pets; however, there are some things you need to think about before getting a monkey. A pet monkey is a huge time commitment. A monkey can live for 20 to 40 years. They may not take well to new people, and should you decide to re-home your pet, it may be very difficult to find a new home for it. In many areas, it is illegal to keep a monkey, and you would have to check the local regulations first. If it is legal, you would probably have to get a permit first. Being a wild animal, a monkey may still be aggressive and bite; they can be very messy and require large enclosures to house them. It may also be very difficult to find a vet able to treat monkeys.