Monkey

Monkeys are mammals that are closely related to apes. They are part of a group called simians, which includes both monkeys and apes. Scientists now know that apes are a type of monkey. This means that all monkeys, including apes, share a common ancestor.

There are many kinds of monkeys. Some live in trees, and others live mostly on the ground. Most monkeys are active during the day and are known for being clever. 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. They have found that monkeys have been around for millions of years. Even though some scientists say apes are monkeys, many people still think of them 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" may have come from an old German story called Reynard the Fox. In this story, a character named Moneke was the son of Martin the Ape. At first, people did not always know the difference between "ape" and "monkey." 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 are a type of animal called a primate. Primates also include animals like lemurs, lorises, and apes. Monkeys are part of a group called simians, which includes apes, too.

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

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

Relationship with humans

Monkeys have many different relationships with humans. Some people keep monkeys as pets. Others use them in scientific research or space missions. In some places, monkeys are considered pests because they can damage crops. Monkeys can also help people with disabilities by doing tasks like feeding or 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 who cannot move well, but there are worries about their safety and care. Monkeys have 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