Known places of residence. Where can you find certain monkeys? Known Residences Primate Habitat

As you know, monkeys are very smart animals. There are about 280 species of them on the planet. And today we want to introduce you to a list with photos of ten monkeys that differ from the rest in their unusual appearance.

Tonkinsky Gulman

The Tonkinese Gulman is a rare primate species found in various forests in southern China and northeastern Vietnam. They live in groups of 4–27 individuals, led by females. These active and noisy monkeys spend most of their lives in trees. The basis of their diet consists of shoots, fruits, flowers and bark. The length of the head and body of male Tonkin Gulman reaches 55–64 cm, females 47–59 cm. The weight of males is 6.5–7.2 kg, females 5.5–5.9 kg. The total number of individuals living in the wild is unknown, but there are believed to be fewer than 500 left in Vietnam and 1,400–1,650 in China.


The proboscis monkey is a species of monkey found in tropical forests and mangroves along rivers exclusively on the island of Borneo. A distinctive feature of these unusual monkeys is their large pear-shaped nose, which only males have. Proboscis whales live in groups of 10 to 30 individuals. They feed mainly on leaves and fruits, sometimes on plant flowers. The length of the head and body of males is 73–76 cm, females 54–64 cm. The weight of males is 16–22 kg, females 7–12 kg. Proboscis whales swim and dive well. They are considered the best swimmers of all primates. The species is endangered and is included in the list of the ugliest animals on the planet.


Eighth on the list of the most unusual monkey species is the Nemean tonkotel, a species of primate that inhabits various types of forests in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. They live in groups of up to 50 individuals. They feed mainly on young leaves, fruits, seeds and flowers. They spend most of their time in trees. Adult males reach an average weight of 11 kg, females approximately 8.4 kg. Their body length is 61–76 cm, tail length is 56–76 cm. Life expectancy is up to 25 years. They are endangered.


The baboon is a species of large monkey, distributed in the semi-open mountainous and lowland territories of Angola, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Zambia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia and Tanzania. This very agile monkey spends most of its time on the ground, where it stays close to trees, where it sometimes sleeps. They live in herds of 20 to 200 individuals (average 80). Their body length reaches an average of 75 cm, weight 20–25 kg. Life expectancy is 20–30 years. They feed on fruits, grains, bulbs, shoots, insects, and small mammals. Baboons are often kept in zoos.


Roxellanicus rhinopithecus is a species of primate found in a small area of ​​montane and mixed coniferous-deciduous forests in southern and central China. These animals are among the most cold-resistant primates, for which the Chinese nicknamed them “snow monkeys.” They spend almost their entire lives on trees and, at the slightest danger, climb to their tops. They feed mainly (when there is no fruit) on tree bark, pine needles and lichens. They live in groups of 9–18 animals. Their body length is 57–76 cm, tail length 51–72 cm, weight of males 15–39 kg, females 6.5–10 kg. The species is endangered.


The orangutan is a highly intelligent species of large ape found only in the rain forests of Borneo and Sumatra. They spend most of their lives in trees, through which they move with the help of long arms (span reaches 2 m), helping themselves with their legs. They feed mainly on fruits and tree leaves, sometimes insects, bird eggs, honey, nuts and bark. The height of males can reach 1.5 m (usually less), body weight - 50–90 and even 135 kg. Females are much smaller - their height is about 1 m, weight 30–50 kg. Orangutans live up to 30 years. This species is endangered and is listed in the International Red Book.

White-headed Langur


In fourth place in the ranking of the most unusual monkeys on the planet is the white-headed langur - one of the rarest primates in the world (the number is estimated at less than 70 individuals), found only in the forests of southern China and northern Vietnam. They live in groups of five to nine animals, usually with one dominant male. They feed mainly on leaves, fruits, flowers and tree bark. The body length of males is 55–62 cm, females 47–55 cm. The weight of males is 8–9.5 kg, females 6–8 kg. Animals have an average lifespan of 25 years.

Gelada


Gelada is a rare species of monkey found only on the mountain plateaus of Ethiopia. They are social animals and live in groups of up to 70 individuals, which sometimes join together to form huge herds of up to 350 animals. They spend all their time exclusively on the ground. They never climb trees. They mainly feed on grass leaves, seeds and excavated underground stems and rhizomes, sometimes fruits and small invertebrates. The length of the head and body of males is 69–74 cm, females 50–65 cm. The weight of males reaches 20 kg, females 12–16 kg. They are considered one of the most dangerous herbivores and the loudest monkeys in the world.


The Japanese macaque is the northernmost monkey, living in various forests in the north of the island of Honshu in Japan, where snow remains for up to four months and the average winter temperature is -5° C. During this period, Japanese macaques spend most of their time in hot springs. They live in groups of 20 to 100 individuals with a strict hierarchy. Their body length reaches 79–95 cm. The weight of males is 10–14 kg, females – 5.5 kg. Japanese macaques are omnivores, feeding mainly on fruits, leaves, seeds, plant roots, fungi, as well as insects, fish, bird eggs and small vertebrates. Interestingly, this monkey, along with humans and raccoons, are the only animals that wash their food before eating it.


The most unusual species of monkey in the world is the spectacled monkey, common in the forests of Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand. They live in groups of 5 to 20 animals. They almost never descend to the ground. They prefer to stay in the upper layers of trees (at heights of 35 meters or higher). They feed mainly on leaves, a variety of fruits and flowers. Capable of eating up to 2 kg per day. Their body length is 42–61 cm, tail length is 50–85 cm. On average, an adult male spectacled thin-bodied fish weighs 7.4 kg, a female 6.5 kg.

The primate order is divided into two suborders and 16 families:

Suborder Wet-nosed ( Strepsirrhini) includes the following families:

  • Dwarf lemurs ( Cheirogalidae);
  • Lemuridae ( Lemuridae);
  • Lepilemurs ( Lepilemuridae);
  • Indriaceae ( Indridae);
  • Hand-footed ( Daubentoniidae);
  • Loriaceae ( Loridae);
  • Galagadae ( Galagonidae).

Suborder Dry-nosed ( Haplorrhini) consists of the following families:

  • Tarsier ( Tarsiidae);
  • Marmosets ( Callitrichidae);
  • Grain-tailed monkeys ( Cebidae);
  • Night Monkeys ( Aotidae);
  • Sakova ( Pitheciidae);
  • Spider monkeys ( Atelidae);
  • Monkeys ( Cercopithecidae);
  • Gibbons ( Hylobatidae);
  • Hominids ( Hominidae).

Evolution

Fossils of early primates date from the Early (56 to 40 million years ago) or possibly Late Paleocene (59 to 56 million years ago) epochs. Although they are an ancient group and many (especially the broad-nosed or New World monkeys) remained entirely arboreal, others became at least partially terrestrial and achieved high levels of intelligence. There is no doubt that this particular detachment includes some of the.

Lifespan

Although humans are the longest-living primates, the potential lifespan of chimpanzees is estimated at 60 years, and orangutans sometimes reach this age in captivity. On the other hand, the lifespan of lemurs is about 15 years, and monkeys are 25-30 years.

Description

Roxellanov's rhinopithecus

Despite the marked differences between primate families, they share several anatomical and functional characteristics that reflect their common order. Relative to body weight, the primate brain is larger than that of other mammals and has a unique spur-like groove that separates the first and second visual areas on each side of the brain. While all other mammals have claws or hooves on their toes, primates have flat nails. Some primates have claws, but the big toe still has a flat nail.

Not all primates have equally dexterous hands; only monkeys (marmosets and hominids, including humans) and some lemurs and lorises have an opposable thumb. Primates are not the only animals that grasp various objects with their limbs. But since this characteristic is found in many other arboreal mammals (such as squirrels and opossums), and since most living primates are arboreal, it is assumed that they evolved from an ancestor that was arboreal.

Primates also have specialized nerve endings on their limbs that increase tactile sensitivity. As far as is known, no other placental mammal has them. Primates have fingerprints, but so do many other arboreal mammals.

Primates have binocular vision, although this feature is by no means limited to primates, but is a common characteristic observed among. Therefore, it has been proposed that the ancestor of primates was a predator.

Primate teeth differ from those of other mammals, with low, rounded molar and premolar teeth that contrast with the long, sharp teeth of other placental mammals. This difference makes it easy to recognize primate teeth.

Size

Members of the primate order exhibit a range of size and adaptive diversity. The smallest primate is the mouse lemur ( Microcebus berthae), which weighs about 35-50 grams; The most massive primate is, of course, the gorilla ( Gorilla), whose weight varies from 140 to 180 kg, which is almost 4000 times the weight of the mouse lemur.

Geographical range and habitat

Primates occupy two main plant zones: and. Each of these zones created corresponding adaptations in primates, but among arboreal species there is probably more diversity in bodily forms than among savanna inhabitants. Arboreal primates share many of the characteristics that likely evolved as adaptations to life in the trees. Several species, including our own, have left trees and become terrestrial.

Non-human primates are widespread in all tropical latitudes, India, Southeast and. In Ethiopia, gelada (genus Theropithecus) is found at altitudes up to 5000 meters. The gorillas of the Virunga Mountains are known to pass through mountain passes at altitudes of over 4,200 meters. Red Howlers ( Alouatta seniculus) Venezuelans live at an altitude of 2500 meters in the mountains of the Cordillera de Merida, and in northern Colombia the Myriquins (genus Aotus) are found in the tropical montane forests of the Central Cordillera.

The gestation period varies among primate species. For example, mouse lemurs have a gestation period of 54–68 days, lemurs 132–134 days, macaques 146–186 days, gibbons 210 days, chimpanzees 230 days, gorillas 255 days, and humans (on average) 267 days. Even in small primates, the gestation period is significantly longer than in other mammals of equivalent size, reflecting the complexity of primates. Although there is a general evolutionary tendency for primates to increase body size, there is no absolute correlation between body size and the length of the gestation period.

The degrees of puberty and maternal dependence at birth are obviously closely related. Newborn primates are not as helpless as kittens, puppies or rats. With a few exceptions, the young primate is born with its eyes and fur open. The cubs must be able to cling to their mother's fur; only a few species leave their babies in shelters while feeding. The cubs of the highest primates are able to cling to their mother's fur without outside help; however, humans, chimpanzees, and gorillas must support their newborns, and humans do this the longest.

Once the primate infant has learned to support itself by standing on its own two (or four) legs, the physical dependency phase is over; the next stage, psychological dependence, lasts much longer. The human child is attached to its mother for a much longer time than the non-human primate. The teenage period of psychological maternal dependence is 2.5 years in lemurs, 6 years in monkeys, 7-8 years in most hominoids and 14 years in humans.

Behavior

Primates are among the most social animals, forming pairs or family groups. Social systems are influenced by three main ecological factors: distribution, group size, and predation. Within a social group there is a balance between cooperation and competition. Cooperative behavior includes social grooming, food sharing, and collective defense against predators. Aggressive behavior often signals competition for food, bedding or mates. Aggression is also used to establish dominance hierarchies.

It is known that several species of primates can cooperate in the wild. For example, in Tai National Park in Africa, several species coordinate behavior to protect themselves from predators. These include Diana's marmoset, Campbell's marmoset, small white-nosed marmoset, red colobus, royal colobus, and smoky mangabey. Among the predators of these monkeys is the common chimpanzee.

Primates have developed cognitive abilities: some make tools and use them for food and for social display; others have complex hunting strategies that require cooperation, influence, and primacy; they are status conscious, manipulative and capable of deception; these animals can learn to use symbols and understand human language.

Some primates rely on olfactory cues for many aspects of social and reproductive behavior. Specialized glands are used to mark territories with pheromones, which are picked up by the vomeronasal organ. Primates also use vocalizations, gestures, and emotions to convey psychological states. Like humans, chimpanzees can distinguish between the faces of familiar and unfamiliar people.

Primate conservation

Although many primates are still abundant in the wild, populations of many species are in steep decline. More than 70% of primates in Asia and approximately 40% of primates in South America, mainland Africa and the island of Madagascar are listed as critically endangered, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). A number of species, especially the gorilla, some of the Madagascan lemurs and some species from South America, are at serious risk of extinction as their habitats are destroyed and poaching is widespread.

However, the numbers of some endangered species have increased. Concerted captive breeding efforts have been successful, and reintroduction into the wild is also practiced in Brazil.

Primates have always interested people more than other animals. This is largely due to Darwin's theory and anthropological data on certain species. Next, let's look at where monkeys live, their varieties and life cycle features.

General information

There are several hundred species of primates in nature, the most famous of which are apes. The length of a monkey's body can vary from a few centimeters to two meters. As a rule, these animals lead an arboreal lifestyle and live in groups. Omnivorous animals are active during the day. Preferences in plant or animal food depend on the habitat. Where do monkeys live? Let's look at their living environment by family.

Marmosets and galags

The Marmoset family belongs to the smallest species of primates. They are very active and mobile, live in trees, perform all important tasks during the day, and sleep in tree hollows at night. The main food is fruits, seeds, birds and insects. Habitat regions: Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Panama, Colombia.

The nocturnal animals of galagos are very active jumpers. The main diet is fruits, other fruits, and invertebrates. Habitat - Africa. These can be either dry regions with thorny bushes or places with a tropical climate.

Family of apes

Next, let's look at where do monkeys that are most similar to humans live and what do they eat? These animals can be short, medium or tall. The mass of animals is, depending on the genus and species, from five to three hundred kilograms. Distinctive features are the massive build of the body, long front and short hind limbs. The head is round in shape with a prominent facial part. They also have a well-developed brain.

Mostly great apes live in tropical forests, lead a diurnal lifestyle, and spend a lot of time in trees. Habitat regions: Equatorial Africa, Southeast Asia and adjacent island territories. Food: fruits of trees, parts of bushes, insects, birds, small animals.

Gibbons

This family is characterized by the following features:

  • body length - from 450 to 900 millimeters;
  • body weight - from 8 to 13 kilograms;
  • original structure with especially elongated forelimbs;
  • primates have an ischial callus;
  • animals have thick hair;
  • The color of the animals varies from cream to black or brown.

Gibbon families live primarily in tropical forests in trees, feeding on leaves and fruits. Habitat: Kalimantan, Sumatra, Java, Indochina, Thailand, Burma.

Where do dwarf lemurs live?

The largest individuals of these animals reach 460 grams. They live in eastern tropical forests and western arid areas. Depending on the region, the animals have a red-brown color or a gray tint. Many of these primates live on the island of Madagascar. Unlike most other monkeys, lemurs are nocturnal, mostly in trees. They build nests in the form of balls of leaves and use natural hollows as homes. The animals usually feed on fruits and roots.

Tarsiers

Below we describe where (in which country) monkeys of the tarsier family live, which are a transitional link between lemurs and lower species. Features of these animals:

  • small size - from 280 to 400 millimeters with a tail 6-25 cm long;
  • weight - 150 g (maximum);
  • The animals have a relatively large and very mobile head, which can be rotated 180°.
  • shortened muzzle;
  • eyes - large bulging;
  • well-developed heel section;
  • the wool is velvety, reddish or gray in color;
  • the long elastic tail has a tassel at the end;
  • diet - vertebrates, insects, lizards, birds and eggs.

Habitat: Southeast Asia. In this case, a certain species occupies a specific territory (the islands of the Philippine, Sunda and Malay archipelago).

Hands

This family is represented by one species and is listed in the Red Book. Individuals are small in size, have a slender and somewhat elongated body, a rounded head, and a shortened facial part. Monkeys have rough, brown or black fur.

Where do monkeys of this family live? Their main habitats are bamboo and mangrove thickets, as well as jungles. Primates are active at night, lead an arboreal lifestyle, sleeping in tree hollows or in their crowns. The main food is insects and larvae. This rare species can only be found in Madagascar.

Monkeys

Features of this family:

  • the category includes eight genera of primates;
  • some of them are tailless;
  • the body type is different - from an elegant light body to a massive and heavy body;
  • the hind limbs are shorter than the front legs;
  • the hairline is long and silky;
  • hair covers the entire body, including the ischium, soles and hind legs.

Where do monkeys live? In the jungle, on open plains, rocky places. Mangroves are the main habitats of the apes. Some of them lead an arboreal lifestyle, others move on the ground. During the day, animals are active; at night, they roost in caves or tree cavities. Population regions - Southeast Asia, Africa, Arabian Peninsula, Gibraltar.

Capuchins

This is the most numerous species of primates (11 genera). The animals are medium to small in size and have a long, hairy tail. Some individuals can use it as an organ of touch. The hair of prehensile-tailed primates (capuchins) is thick and uniform. The facial part of the head is shortened, the nostrils are clearly separated, and the large eyes have pronounced eyelids.

These representatives of primates are excellent at moving through trees, feeding on plant foods, but they do not disdain insects, bird eggs and other small animals. Capuchins hold prey with the help of their front paws; their muzzle is capable of expressing some emotions. Habitat: South and Central America, Argentina, Mexico.

Where does the spider monkey live?

This category of primates lives on tree branches and moves along them with the help of tenacious limbs. Animals live in families of up to twenty individuals, which are also divided into groups of 4-5 representatives. They lead a diurnal lifestyle, feeding on plant and animal foods.

Depending on the species, the coat color of arachnid primates can vary from gray to black. The main habitat is Peru, Central and South America, Brazil, Bolivia. Above we looked at where many, many wild monkeys live. It is worth noting that, despite the beauty and visual good nature of some representatives of primates, in fact they can be cunning and very dangerous. In our country, you can see monkeys in zoos located in large cities.

Monkeys are fairly well-studied four-armed mammals that are closest in origin and body structure to humans. In a broader sense, all monkeys are representatives of the order Primates. According to the new taxonomy, real monkeys are allocated to the infraorder Apes, and are united with tarsiers, belonging to the suborder Dry-nosed primates (Harlorhini). All prosimians (with the exception of tarsiers) are classified in the suborder Wet-nosed primates (Strepsirrhini).

Description of monkeys

The brain of monkeys is quite well developed, therefore it has a so-called complex structure. Apes are characterized by the presence of highly developed parts of the brain that are responsible for the meaningfulness of movements. Most monkeys have binocular vision, and the whites of the eyes, along with the pupils, are black in color. The dental system of monkeys is similar to human teeth, but the narrow-nosed and broad-nosed monkeys have some noticeable differences - there are 32 and 36 teeth. Apes have massive teeth with complex root structures.

Appearance

The body length of adult monkeys can vary markedly - from fifteen centimeters in the pygmy marmoset species to a couple of meters in male gorillas. The weight of the animal also directly depends on the species characteristics. The body weight of the smallest representatives can be no more than 120-150 grams, and individual, largest gorilla individuals often weigh 250-275 kg.

A significant part of monkey species that lead an exclusively arboreal lifestyle have a long back, a short and narrow chest, and fairly thin hip bones.

Gibbons and orangutans are characterized by the presence of a wide and massive chest, as well as well-developed, large pelvic bones. Some species of monkeys are distinguished by a very long tail, exceeding the length of the body, and also performing a balancing function during the active movement of the animal through the trees.

Land-dwelling monkeys are characterized by a short tail, but apes do not have one at all. The body of monkeys is covered with hair of varying degrees of length and density, the color of which can vary from light brown and red tones to black and white and grayish-olive tones. Some older individuals become noticeably grayer over the years, and many male monkeys are even characterized by the appearance of bald spots.

Four-armed mammals are distinguished by mobile and very well-developed upper limbs, endowed with five fingers. The phalangeal part ends with a nail. Another distinctive feature of monkeys is the presence of an opposable thumb. The way of life directly depends on the general development of the animal’s legs and arms. Species that spend a significant part of their time only in trees have short thumbs, which helps them easily move from one branch to another. And, for example, the feet of a baboon are characterized by a pronounced length and even some grace, which makes it convenient to move on the ground.

Character and lifestyle

The social behavior of monkeys is still not well studied, however, basic general information is known about the character and lifestyle of such primates. For example, marmosets also lead an arboreal lifestyle, and the nail plates, which have turned into strongly curved claws, allow such monkeys to easily climb trees. All prehensile-tailed monkeys, when collecting fruits from trees, are securely held by the branches with their long and very tenacious tail.

This is interesting! Representatives of many species of monkeys leading an arboreal lifestyle do not descend to the surface of the earth, since in the crowns of a tree such animals are able to find everything they need for life.

Tree species are represented by small monkeys, which are simply amazingly mobile, and macaques and baboons living in Asia and Africa search and collect food on the ground, but spend the night only in tree crowns. Frilled baboons inhabit the most open spaces in savannas and plateaus. Such animals are not very mobile and belong to the category of typical land monkeys.

Monkey intelligence

Apes are very intelligent animals, as evidenced by a number of different scientific studies and experiments. The intelligence of chimpanzees, whose genetic base is approximately ninety percent identical to human indicators, has been most studied to date. This species is so genetically close to humans that at one time scientists even proposed to classify such an animal as a member of the genus Humans.

Unable to speak due to the peculiarities of the vocal apparatus, chimpanzees are quite capable of communicating in sign language, symbols and the language of lexigrams. In natural conditions, anthropoid species often and actively use tools to collect water and honey, catch termites and ants, hunt animals and crack nuts. Regardless of the relationships within a herd or pack, monkey communication is characterized by complex forms of behavior. Such animals are not at all alien to many feelings, including friendship and love, envy and resentment, rancor and cunning, strong anger, as well as empathy and grief.

This is interesting! Japanese macaques are incredibly inventive monkeys who, thanks to their extraordinary intelligence, have found a way to protect themselves from frost in their habitats and plunge neck-deep into the waters of hot springs to warm up.

Monkeys try to unite in herds or flocks, so they are forced to maintain constant communication with each other. Thanks to secretion marks from the scent glands, animals receive information about the sex and age, as well as the social status of a particular individual. However, more important for communication are optical signals, including head nodding, mouth opening wide, teeth exposed, and striking the ground. For example, mutual cleaning of wool is not only a matter of hygiene, but also serves as a kind of unifying factor that strengthens the relationships of individuals within the group.

How long do monkeys live?

Monkeys typically live about half a century in the wild, and slightly longer in captivity. The exact average lifespan of monkeys varies depending on the species and habitat. Along with other members of the primate order, all monkeys undergo developmental stages similar to humans.

This is interesting! A significant proportion of monkeys die before the age of fifty, becoming victims of accidents, attacks by predators or people.

Newborn monkeys are completely dependent on their mothers until the age of five, before entering the juvenile stage of their development. The adolescent stage in monkeys usually begins at the age of eight, and primates reach sexual maturity at sixteen years, when the animal becomes independent and fully grown.

Monkey species

The infraorder Apes are represented by two parvoorders:

  • Broad-nosed monkeys (Platyrrhini);
  • Narrow-nosed monkeys (Catarrhini).

In the modern classification, more than four hundred species of monkeys are distinguished, and among the most unusual and interesting at present, they deservedly include:

  • Black Howler (Alouatta caraya) from the family, found in Paraguay, Bolivia, Brazil and Argentina. Representatives of the species make peculiar, very loud roaring sounds. Males have black coats, while females have yellow-brown or olive coats. The length of an adult male black howler monkey is about 52-67 cm with a body weight of 6.7 kg, and females are much smaller. The basis of the diet is represented by fruits and foliage;
  • Mourning Capuchin (Cebus oliveceus) from the Chain-tailed family, living in the virgin forests of Venezuela, Brazil and Suriname. The maximum weight of a male is 3.0 kg, and females are about a third less. The coat color is brown or light brown, with a grayish tint. There is a characteristic black-haired triangle in the head area. Flocks of this type practice infanticide in the form of deliberate killing of cubs, and protection from bloodsuckers is carried out by rubbing the fur with poisonous centipedes. The species is omnivorous;
  • Crowned, or Blue monkey (Cercorithecus mitis) lives in forest areas and bamboo groves on the African continent. The animal has a gray color with a bluish tint and a white stripe on the fur that runs above the eyebrows and resembles a crown. The average body length of adult monkeys varies between 50-65 cm, with a body weight of 4.0-6.0 kg. Males are distinguished by well-developed white whiskers and fairly long fangs;
  • White-handed gibbon (Нylobates lar) from the Gibbon family, living in the tropical forest areas of China and the Malay Archipelago. Adults usually grow to a length of 55-63 cm with a body weight in the range of 4.0-5.5 kg. The body has fur of black, brown or color, but the area of ​​the arms and legs is always a characteristic white color. The basis of nutrition is represented by fruits, leaves and insects;
  • Eastern gorilla (Gorilla beringei) is the largest monkey in the world, with a height of about 185-190 cm with an average body weight of 150-160 kg. The massive animal has a large head and broad shoulders, an open chest and long legs. The coat color is predominantly black, but the mountain gorilla subspecies is characterized by a bluish tint. On the back of a mature male there is a strip of silvery fur. The diet is represented by plants and fungi, less often by invertebrate animals;
  • Pale, or white-headed saki (Pithecia pithecia) is a broad-nosed monkey with long and shaggy hair. The size of an adult animal varies between 30-48 cm, with a weight of no more than 1.9-2.0 kg. The male's black coat contrasts markedly with the pink or white color of his face. The adult female has a black-gray or gray-brown coat color and is also pale-faced. The diet is represented by seeds and fruits that grow in Venezuela, Suriname and Brazil;
  • Hamadryad, or frilled baboon (Pario hamadryas) from the species Narrow-nosed monkeys and the genus Baboons, inhabits the open spaces of Africa and Asia, including Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan, as well as Nubia and Yemen. The body length of an adult male varies between 70-100 cm and weighs about 28-30 kg. The difference between the male is the original arrangement of hair with long hair on the shoulders and chest area. Females have a darker coat color;
  • Japanese macaque (Masasa fussata listen)) is a species found primarily in northern Honshu, but a small population has been artificially introduced into Texas. The height of an adult male varies between 75-95 cm, with a weight of 12-14 kg. A characteristic feature of the species is bright red skin, especially noticeable in the area of ​​the animal’s muzzle and on the buttocks, which are completely devoid of hair. The fur of the Japanese macaque is thick, dark gray with a slight brown tint;
  • Ordinary (Pan troglodytes) is a species that lives in wooded areas of the tropics and in humid savannas of the African continent. The body of the animal is covered with very coarse and hard fur of a dark brown color. The fur near the mouth and in the tailbone area is partially white, and the feet, muzzle and palms are completely devoid of fur. The common chimpanzee is an omnivore, but the bulk of its diet consists of plants.

Of particular interest are the pygmy marmosets (Cebuella pygmaea), which are the smallest monkeys in the world and inhabit forests in South America.

Range, habitats

Monkeys live on almost all continents, including Europe, southern and southeastern Asia, Africa, tropical and subtropical regions of South and Central America, and Australia. There are no monkeys in Antarctica.

  • chimpanzees inhabit the countries of Central and Western Africa: Senegal and Guinea, Angola and Congo, Chad and Cameroon, as well as some others;
  • The distribution range of macaques is very wide and extends from Afghanistan to Southeast Asia and Japan. Magot macaques live in North Africa and Gibraltar;
  • The gorilla's habitats are represented by equatorial forests in Central and Western Africa, and part of the population is found in Cameroon and Gambia, Chad and Mauritania, Guinea and Benin;
  • orangutans live exclusively in humid forest areas on the islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan;
  • The habitat of howler monkeys is represented mainly by the countries of southern Mexico, Brazil, Bolivia and Argentina;
  • The distribution areas of the monkey are Southeast Asia, the entire Arabian Peninsula and the African continent, as well as Gibraltar;
  • almost all varieties of gibbon live only in the Asian region, and their natural habitat is represented by forest areas of Malaysia and India, humid tropical thickets in Burma, Cambodia and Thailand, Vietnam and China;
  • hamadryas (baboons) have become widespread throughout almost the entire territory of African countries, are the only primates inhabiting the northeastern part of the continent, including Sudan and Egypt, and are also found on the Arabian Peninsula;
  • the distribution range of capuchins is represented by vast expanses of tropical humid forest zones, ranging from Honduras to the territories of Venezuela and southern Brazil;
  • baboons are very widespread in the territories of East and Central Africa, including Kenya and Uganda, Ethiopia and Sudan, Congo and Angola;
  • Saki monkeys are typical inhabitants of South America and are also often found in Colombia, Venezuela and Chile.

Tamarins prefer the warmest regions of Central America, Costa Rica and South America, found in almost all areas of the Amazon lowland, and some species inhabit Bolivia and Brazil.

Monkey diet

Monkeys are predominantly herbivorous four-armed mammals that prefer to eat fruits, leaves and flowers, as well as roots of various plants. Many known species of monkeys are quite capable of supplementing their plant diet with small vertebrates and insects for variety. Some monkeys have evolved to eat special foods.

Marmosets very readily eat the gum that flows from damaged tree trunks. Such monkeys easily gnaw out holes in tree bark using incisors, after which the sweet plant juice is licked off with their tongue. The red-backed saki loves hard fruit seeds, and to eat them, it uses an interdental gap that functions like a regular nutcracker.

Howler monkeys and howler monkeys readily feed on very hard and low-nutritive tree foliage. In such monkeys, the stomach is divided into several parts by special partitions, which is somewhat reminiscent of the digestive system of ruminants.

This is interesting! A significant part of the Old World species have so-called cheek pouches, inside of which a large amount of food can easily fit.

Thanks to this structural feature, the path of food passage increases, and food moves for quite a long time through the digestive system, which allows the foliage to be completely and well digested. In the double or triple stomachs of all leaf-eating monkeys there are bacteria and protozoa that are responsible for the process of active breakdown of cellulose.