How many species of monkeys live on our planet, what do they eat, what are the features of their life? We are happy to read about all this and watch TV shows. And this is not surprising, because we came from a common ancestor. We have a lot of similarities, not only in the appearance and structure of the skeleton, but also in behavior.
What kinds of monkeys are there?
Zoologists define two groups of primates, and these animals are classified by them. They are divided into primates of the New and Old Worlds. The first group includes monkeys living in Central and South America, and the second - in Asia and Africa. And each group has its own distinctive features. New World monkeys have a tail with which they can hold on to branches while moving through trees, and their nose is wide. African and Asian primates very often have no tail, but even if it is, animals do not use it as a kind of fifth limb, their nose is narrow. These two groups include more than one hundred and sixty species of monkeys.
Primates of South and Central America
The following monkeys (species) live in this territory: monkeys, tamarines, capuchins, squirrel monkeys (56 species), owl and nocturnal monkeys, titi, sakis and Uakaris (41 species), howler monkeys, spider and woolly monkeys.
African and Asian primates
The largest number of primates lives on these continents - more than 135 species. If you list all kinds of monkeys, the list will be huge. They are united in wider categories: baboons, thinbodies, colobus, mandrills, macaques. There is another category that includes the following species of apes: gorilla, chimpanzee, orangutan, bonobo (pygmy chimpanzee) and gibbon.
Tamarins
These monkeys belong to the marmoset family. They live in the warmest areas of South America: Brazil, Costa Rica, the Amazon. Tamarin is very easy to distinguish from other monkeys in appearance: the main characteristic distinctive feature is the mustache, although there are also bezepless representatives of this species. Some have the same lion's mane. And because of their very unusual appearance, these animals are constantly hunted - poachers catch tamarines for sale on the black market. That is why this species is facing extinction.
In length, the body of tamarin reaches from eighteen to thirty-five centimeters, with a tail - from twenty-three to forty-four centimeters, they weigh up to a kilogram. If you list the species of little monkeys, then tamarines will head this list. Their main habitat is the highlands of Brazil. In these places, monkeys feel great: mild, humid climate, plenty of food. Tamarins live in small groups of 5-10 individuals, so it is easier for them to find food and protect themselves from predators. At night they sleep on tall trees, and with the onset of morning they begin to lead an active lifestyle: they are looking for food, caring for each other.
Tamarins are omnivorous - they like to eat lizards, snails, insects, bird eggs, and plant foods - tree leaves, fruits, nuts and nectar. The obtained food is equally distributed among all members of the pack. If a stranger enters their territory, then they all expel him together, creating frightening grimaces. Young animals are taken care of by the whole group. Kids up to four months of age constantly move on the back of their father. Monkeys all the time talking among themselves, thereby informing each other about the food found and the approach of the enemy.
Monkeys
These primates belong to the monkey family. These are very small and funny monkeys. Types of monkeys: real and green, hussar, Talapoin and others (23 in total). Body sizes are usually small (like a cat's), the coat is thick and very soft. The color of these monkeys is very diverse: olive, gray-green, light gray, brown, red, blue, black. The muzzle is slightly elongated, some representatives of this species have a mustache, sideburns and beards. The tail is usually twice as long as the body. Sciatic corns of small sizes.
These primates live mainly in forests. Monkeys feed on both plant and animal food. The diet includes young tree branches and leaves, fruits, succulent grass, insects and small vertebrates. Monkeys flee from enemies. It should be noted that the greatest danger for them is the people who catch them for sale. Monkeys are well tamed, but for this it is necessary to take cubs. The adult monkey, being in captivity, practically does not give in to training.
Capuchins
In this genus of monkeys, more than thirty subspecies are united. The species of these primates form four groups. These monkeys live in Brazil and Honduras. Most of the time is spent on the tops of tall trees. The body length of the animal reaches fifty centimeters. The head is round, with prominent cheekbones. The color of the face is usually pink or white. At the top - a black tuft, similar to the hood of the Capuchin monks (in fact, because of this similarity, the animal got its name).
Primates live in groups of 10 to 30 individuals. They collect food together, defend themselves from enemies and take care of offspring. Capuchins are omnivorous: they feed on both plant and animal food. It should be noted that these monkeys are very smart. They can crack nuts with a stone, beat fruit on tree branches. Having caught a tree frog, they clean off mucus from it, wiping it against a tree. Capuchin cubs spend up to three months all the time on their mother’s back, crawling to their breasts to feed on milk. From the age of six months they begin to lead a more independent way of life, eat adult food, but they do not depart far from their mother.
Howlers
Howlers are the largest primates in the New World. They are the size of a dog. These monkeys have a long and very tenacious tail, which they constantly use when moving through trees.
The body of the primate is covered with thick but short hair. Long hair only on the cone-shaped head. The jaw sticks forward, somewhat similar to a dog. The neck is very short, so it seems that it is completely absent. These primates spend most of their lives in trees. During the day they climb to the very tops, where they seek food, and go down lower at night, settling down for the night in dense branches of small trees. Howlers are very afraid of water, because they absolutely can not swim.
Monkeys feed on tree buds, leaves, juicy shoots and fruits. Howlers join in flocks, which number from five to forty individuals. The female, as a rule, gives birth to one cub, which she feeds up to 18 months. Young children and childless females help to look after the baby.
Baboons
The second name is yellow baboon. In length, the body reaches seventy-five centimeters, and the length of the tail is about sixty centimeters. The color of the coat is yellow - hence the name of the primacy. Baboons live in East and Central Africa (in the mountain and steppe regions). They feed, like most primates, on plant and animal foods. The diet of baboons includes bulbs, juicy grass, fruits, nuts, insects, lizards, bird eggs, etc.
Baboons never live alone. The group includes up to eighty individuals. There is a clear hierarchy in the pack; several adult males dominate. In case of danger, they come to each other's help. Friendly relations are established between males and offspring. Mature female females remain in the pack, but young males are forced to leave. Interestingly, ungulate herds often join the flock of yellow baboons. The fact is that baboons have very sharp vision, so they can warn about the danger in time.
Mandrils
This is the largest species of primates, not belonging to the group of apes. They inhabit the territory of West Africa. Mature males have a very beautiful and bright color. They have a red beard, a bright pink nose, and blue stripes on the face. Females and young males do not have such a bright color. The weight of males sometimes reaches fifty-four kilograms. Females are much smaller.
The diet of primates includes both plant and animal food. Mandrills eat more than one hundred and thirteen plant species.
These monkeys live in families, which include one male and ten to fifteen females. Each family has an area of fifty square meters, which they mark with an odorous secret. Pregnancy of females lasts two hundred and twenty days. Kids are born from April to December, at this time a lot of food, so the females have time to feed them. The connection between the mother and the cub remains for a very long time. Up to three years, the baby comes to sleep with his mother.
Gorillas
Gorillas are the largest apes. These primates live in the moist forests of equatorial Africa. Until recently, the habitat of these monkeys was inaccessible. But the natives always knew about the neighborhood of these animals and tried not to meet with them, believing that they have a fierce disposition.
The growth of gorillas reaches almost two meters, and weight - from one hundred forty to two hundred kilograms. The body has a square shape. The color of the coat and skin is black. With age, the males on the back of the coat turn gray. Like all primates, gorillas lead a daily life. These monkeys feed exclusively on plant foods. They prefer stems and leaves, but the fruits make up a small fraction of the diet.
Gorillas have a very calm, even phlegmatic character, despite their awesome appearance. The female mates only with the leader of the herd; pregnancy lasts eight and a half months. The baby first rides on the back of his mother, and then walks nearby, holding on to her coat. Life expectancy is thirty to thirty-five years, but some individuals live for half a century.
The rarest species of monkeys
Man is very neglectful of the surrounding nature. Many animals were on the verge of extinction, including monkeys. Species of some of them include such a small number of individuals that scientists around the world are sounding the alarm. Thus, the Society for the Protection of Animals took custody of drills - primates, which are listed in the Red Book. The population of these animals totals no more than ten thousand individuals. All monkeys (species do not matter) are exterminated by man at a catastrophic rate. And if this continues, the planet may lose these wonderful animals.
Pets
Currently, a domestic monkey is not at all uncommon. Many pet stores sell these exotic animals. But it is worth considering that not all types of primates are well established at home. Here are some types of domestic monkeys that adapt well to captivity: tamarines, monkeys, gibbons, marmosets, capuchins. These primates are unpretentious in content, but certain rules must be followed. So, they should have a spacious cage, proper nutrition. In no case do not beat the animal and do not shout at him, otherwise it will become isolated, aggressive and boring. In poor conditions, monkeys die very quickly.