The scientific name of the monkey is Cercopithecidae. The term “monkey” can refer to any of the mammals in the infraorder Simiiformes, also known as the simians. Traditionally, all animals in the group now known as simians are counted as monkeys except apes, a paraphyletic grouping; however, in a broader sense based on cladistics, apes (Hominoidea) are also included, making the terms monkeys and simians synonyms in terms of their scope.
Monkeys are classified into two groups: New World monkeys (Platyrrhini) and Old World monkeys (Cercopithecidae in the strict sense; Catarrhini in the broad sense, which again includes apes).
Monkey :- Description
A monkey is any of a large and diverse group of mammals belonging to the primate order. The term monkey refers to all primates that do not fall into the categories of human, ape, or prosimian; however, monkeys share some characteristics. All are excellent climbers, with the majority being primarily arboreal. Almost all of them live in tropical or subtropical climates. They are almost all day-active animals, in contrast to the majority of prosimians, or lower primates. Their faces are usually flat and human-like, their eyes are forward-facing, and they have stereoscopic colour vision.
Their hands and feet are well-developed for grasping, with opposable big toes and thumbs where present.Almost all of them have flat nails. Monkeys sit upright most of the time. Unlike apes, most cannot swing arm-over-arm (with the exception of the spider monkey), but instead move around in trees by running along the branches on all fours; their skeletal structure is similar to that of other four-footed animals. Monkeys live in groups of up to several hundred people and travel around in search of food, as they have no permanent shelter. The female, like apes and humans, has a monthly reproductive cycle, and mating can occur at any time, though in some species, mating is seasonal.
Typically, only one infant is born at a time, and it is cared for by the mother for an extended period of time.Monkeys are divided into the two large groups, or superfamilies: Old World monkeys (Cercopithecoidea) and New World monkeys (Cercopithecoidea) (Ceboidea).
Types of monkeys
Monkeys are divided into two categories: Old World monkeys and New World monkeys. According to Nature Education, Old World monkeys live in Asia and Africa and have nostrils that point downward. New World monkeys are found in North and South America and have nostrils that point outward.
Each group possesses unique abilities. According to The University of Edinburgh in Scotland, some New World monkeys, such as spider monkeys from South America, have prehensile tails that they can use to grasp and hold tree branches and other objects, whereas many Old World monkeys have pouches in their cheeks where they can store food.
The appearance of monkeys varies greatly. Proboscis monkeys (Nasalis larvatus) from the Southeast Asian island of Borneo, for example, are known for their large noses in males. According to a 2018 study published in the journal Science Advances, they use their noses to attract female mates who prefer longer noses. Their large noses aid in their vocalisations as well. Proboscis monkeys have potbellies and red faces. Their appearance is strikingly different from that of other species, such as black and brown spider monkeys, which are long and slender with small noses.
What do monkeys eat?
Monkeys are well-known for their fondness for bananas, but their diet varies greatly between species, depending on where they live and what foods are available. According to BBC News, saki monkeys can consume up to 50 different fruit species in a single day. Most monkeys are omnivores, meaning they eat both plant-based foods like fruits and nuts and meat like lizards and bird eggs.
Monkey diets can change with the seasons. According to the Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, proboscis monkeys eat mostly ripe fruit from January to May and more leaves from June to December.
According to the African Wildlife Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to wildlife conservation in Africa, colobus monkeys primarily eat leaves and have complex stomachs that allow them to digest toxic foliage that other monkeys cannot.
Monkey’s Social Harmony Among other Monkey
Monkeys are social creatures that usually live in groups; a troop is a group of monkeys. Monkeys have a wide range of social systems. A one-male group is a common troop structure in which a male leads a group of females and other males, usually staying close to a specific location. The male has access to all of the females for mating, but his rule is constantly threatened by other males from outside the group who seek to depose him. According to Nature Education, males outside of the one-male group frequently live in all-male groups until they are able to lead their own group.
Conclusion
The term “monkey” can refer to any of the mammals in the infraorder Simiiformes, also known as the simians. Traditionally, all animals in the group now known as simians are counted as monkeys except apes, a paraphyletic grouping; however, in a broader sense based on cladistics, apes are also included, making the terms monkeys and simians synonyms in terms of their scope. Monkeys are classified into two groups: New World monkeys and Old World monkeys (Cercopithecidae in the strict sense; Catarrhini in the broad sense, which again includes apes). A monkey is any of a large and diverse group of mammals belonging to the primate order. The term monkey refers to all primates that do not fall into the categories of human, ape, or prosimian; however, monkeys share some characteristics.