Monkey

Monkeys are a group of mammals that are closely related to apes. They belong to a group called simians, which includes both monkeys and apes. Traditionally, monkeys and apes were thought of as separate, but scientists now understand that apes are actually a type of monkey. This means that monkeys, including apes, share a common ancestor.

There are many different kinds of monkeys. Some live in trees, while others spend most of their time on the ground. Most monkeys are active during the day and are known for being clever and smart. Old World monkeys, like baboons, live in Africa and Asia, while New World monkeys live in South America.

Scientists have studied monkeys for many years and have discovered that they have been around for millions of years. Even though apes, like chimpanzees and gorillas, are considered monkeys by some scientists, many people still think of monkeys and apes as different. Monkeys can be identified by certain features, such as having only two nipples on their chests and not having whiskers like some other primates.

Historical and modern terminology

The word "monkey" might have started in an old German story called Reynard the Fox, where a character named Moneke was the son of Martin the Ape. At first, people did not always tell "ape" and "monkey" apart. Sometimes they used the words to mean almost the same thing. Even today, some monkeys have "ape" in their names, like the Barbary ape.

Scientists now group monkeys and apes in special ways. Monkeys are part of a big group called simians, which also includes apes and humans. In everyday language, though, people might call apes "monkeys" too. There are two main kinds of monkeys: those from South and Central America, and those from Africa and Asia. Apes, like gibbons, orangutans, gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos, and humans, are closely related but are usually not called monkeys.

Description

Monkeys are similar to apes in many ways. They come in many sizes, from very small like the pygmy marmoset to larger ones like the mandrill. Some monkeys live in trees, while others live on open grasslands. They eat different foods, such as fruits, leaves, seeds, nuts, flowers, eggs, and small animals like insects.

Monkeys have different features depending on where they live. For example, many monkeys from the New World have long tails that help them grab things, while monkeys from the Old World may have shorter tails or no tail at all. Old World monkeys can see colors much like humans do, while some New World monkeys see colors differently. Even though monkeys and apes both have eyes that face forward, their faces can look quite different from each other.

Classification

Monkeys belong to a group of animals called primates. Primates include many animals such as lemurs, lorises, and apes. Monkeys are part of a smaller group called simians, which also includes apes.

There are two main types of monkeys: New World monkeys and Old World monkeys. New World monkeys live in South and Central America and include animals like marmosets, capuchins, and spider monkeys. Old World monkeys live in Africa and Asia and include many different species such as macaques and baboons.

Apes, which are closely related to monkeys, include animals like gibbons, gorillas, chimpanzees, and humans.

Relationship with humans

Monkeys have many different relationships with humans. Some people keep monkeys as pets, while others use them in scientific research or space missions. In some places, monkeys are considered pests because they can damage crops. Monkeys are also sometimes used to help people with disabilities by performing tasks like feeding and fetching items.

Many zoos have special areas called monkey houses where people can see monkeys and other primates. Some monkeys are trained to help people with severe mobility issues, although there are concerns about their welfare and safety. Monkeys have also appeared in books, movies, and myths, such as the famous character Sun Wukong from Chinese stories. In different cultures, monkeys can have special meanings, like representing courage in Hinduism or being part of the Chinese zodiac.

Main article: Service animal § Helper monkey

Main article: Animal testing on non-human primates