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Cebus albifrons by Whaldener Endo from

10 Crazy Facts About Monkeys

What do you know about monkeys apart from their love of bananas and that we are closely related to them? We’ve heard different versions and descriptions of them, from how they swing on trees to how violent some can be. But what more is there to them?

Primate species called monkeys can be found mostly in tropical jungles. While some, like macaques and baboons, are terrestrial, most live in trees. Old World monkeys like baboons, geladas, and colobus are found in Asia and Africa, but New World monkeys like spider monkeys, tamarins, and capuchins are found in Mexico, South, and Central America.

The number of endangered monkey species is enormous. Some monkey species are also recognised for using tools. They are frequently utilised in scientific studies to help us better comprehend the evolution of intelligence and other cognitive capacities in primates.

Here are other crazy facts about monkeys.

1. Monkeys often have strong family bonds

Monkey family by Irvin calicut from

The relationships that monkeys create within their families and social groups are often very strong. Many different monkey species live in social groups called troops that are made up of several generations of kin. Monkeys will create strong ties with members of their families and other individuals within these units, frequently grooming and assisting one another during fights.

Monkeys create social relationships with one another to provide for their safety, and support, and help in locating food and resources. These bonds are crucial for the survival and well-being of the species. With both parents providing care and support for their young, some species of monkeys, like marmosets and tamarins, have unusually close parental-child relationships.

2. Monkeys are social animals

As social creatures, monkeys form big groupings and live together. Monkeys benefit much from group living, including defence against predators, an opportunity to obtain food and mates, and the capacity to look after their young. Different monkey species will have various troop sizes and social structures; some have hierarchical societies dominated by a single male, while others have more egalitarian social systems.

In these social groupings, monkeys will develop strong attachments with one another and use grooming and other social behaviours to uphold social connections and ease tension. Monkeys create important social relationships with one another, and the lack of social engagement may have detrimental effects on their physical and mental health.

3. Some species of monkeys can recognize themselves

Squirrel monkey by Boris23 from

One indication of self-awareness is the ability of some kinds of monkeys to recognise themselves in mirrors. Rare in the animal kingdom, this skill is regarded as a cognitive milestone. Chimpanzees, orangutans, and bottlenose dolphins, for example, have been shown to be able to recognise their own reflections in mirrors, according to research, whereas other species, like monkeys, may only be able to do so occasionally.

4. Some monkeys have creative ways of looking for food in the wild

Some monkey species, including capuchin monkeys and macaques, have been seen employing tools to aid in food discovery in the wild. For instance, macaques have been seen removing insects from tree crevices with sticks, and capuchin monkeys have been seen using pebbles to crack open nuts.

The use of tools by monkeys is regarded to be a sign of their intelligence and capacity for problem-solving. It also sheds light on the evolution of human civilization and the use of tools by monkeys. The study of tool use in monkeys has been a topic of research in animal behaviour and cognitive psychology, and it has helped to shed light on the origins of tool use and the cognitive skills necessary for tool use in primates.

5. Monkeys have complex communication systems

Monkey by Denishan Joseph from

Various vocalisations, gestures, and facial expressions are all part of the sophisticated communication systems used by monkeys. These systems of communication are used to transmit a variety of information, such as warning signals, mating sounds, and indications of aggression or submission.

Monkeys use body language and gestures in addition to vocalisations to communicate with one another. For instance, they may groom to communicate affection and create social relationships, or they may adopt particular stances and movements to convey dominance or submission. Monkeys can transmit a variety of emotions and intents through their facial expressions, which are an essential component of their communication. For instance, a bared-teeth show may suggest hostility, whereas a calm facial expression may represent a serene or submissive condition.

Overall, the intricacy of monkey communication systems demonstrates their social sophistication and intellect and also emphasises the significance of communication and social interaction in their daily existence.

6. Pygmy marmosets are the smallest species of monkey

Pygmy marmoset by Don Faulkner from

The smallest species of monkey is the pygmy marmoset (Callithrix pygmaea), which grows to an adult size of between 14 and 16 centimetres (5.5 to 6.3 inches) in length, excluding the tail, and weighs between 140 and 330 grammes (4.9 to 11.6 ounces). Their tail, which may grow to a maximum length of 20 centimetres (7.9 inches), is longer than their bodies.

Pygmy marmosets are found in Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, and other South American nations that have rainforests. Being arboreal means they spend most of their time in trees, and their main sources of food are insects, tree sap, and gum. Pygmy marmosets are distinguished not just by their diminutive size but also by their unusual social structure, which involves cooperative breeding and involves the group as a whole taking care of and feeding the young. These little monkeys have a social sophistication and cooperative disposition that is uncommon among primates.

7. Largest species of monkey is the mandrill

The mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx), which is the biggest species of monkey, is an old-world monkey that lives in the woods of West and Central Africa. They are among the largest primates in the world, with males having the ability to weigh up to 120 kilogrammes (265 pounds) and grow as long as 1 metre (3.3 feet).

With bright stripes, blotches, and fur ridges in hues of blue, red, and black, mandrills are recognised for their unusual and vibrant facial patterns. The most vivid markings are found on the faces of dominant males, and it is believed that these markings have a communication function. The social behaviour of mandrills, which is characterised by intricate hierarchies and dominance connections, is in addition to their size and distinguishing markings. They are known to dwell in big groups of up to several hundred people and to exhibit a variety of behaviours, including grooming, play, and aggressive displays, to create and uphold social bonds within the group.

8. Monkeys are omnivores

Macaca arctoides by Barbary lion from

Because they consume both plants and animals, monkeys are omnivores. Depending on their habitat, different monkey species may consume different types of food, with some species relying mostly on fruits and leaves while others consume insects, small animals, and other kinds of protein.

For instance, whereas some monkey species, like the capuchin and squirrel monkey, predominantly consume fruit and insects, other species, like the baboon and macaque, are more omnivorous and consume a wider variety of things, such as leaves, seeds, and small animals.

In addition to their nutrition, monkey species might differ in their preferred methods of feeding, with some preferring to feed arboreally (in trees) and others preferring terrestrially (on the ground). While terrestrial monkeys are more likely to eat small animals and other kinds of protein, arboreal monkeys are more likely to eat fruits and leaves.

9. Some species of monkeys have thumbs that are opposable

Some types of monkeys have opposable thumbs, which allow them to move the thumb on their own and use it in ways akin to how we use our hands. A significant adaptation that has helped some monkey species become highly competent at using tools and searching for food is their capacity to move items.

Both some species of Old World monkeys, such the grivet and the vervet, and some New World monkeys, like capuchin and squirrel monkeys, have opposable thumbs. 

10. Monkeys are highly intelligent

Monkeys are highly intelligent creatures with intricate social systems and a variety of actions that show superior cognitive capacity. Monkeys are known to have larger brains than average for their physical size, which is a trait linked to higher IQs. Some monkey species have been shown to possess cognitive skills that are on par with those of large apes, such as chimpanzees and orangutans, and they are able to solve complicated issues, use tools, and display self-awareness.

Overall, monkeys are very intelligent creatures capable of a variety of activities that reveal highly developed cognitive abilities. These skills have been essential to their survival as a species of monkeys and have helped them survive in a variety of habitats and conditions.

You can also read 10 Interesting Facts About Frogs