How do monkeys live in the wild? Primate order: classification, characteristics, characteristics, range and protection status. Where does the spider monkey live?

The monkey animal is a special type of mammal, which is similar in structure to humans. The animal belongs to the order of primates, suborder dry-nose.

Adults can reach a height of up to 2.5 meters, the smallest monkeys do not exceed 15 centimeters. The largest species of this animal is gorillas, especially males.

The weight of such a large primate varies from 250-280 kg, while very small monkeys can weigh only 200 grams.

Monkeys that live in trees have a specially elongated back, which allows them to wrap around branches and also allows them to jump and climb trees well.

Some species of monkeys have a long tail, usually longer than the entire body, it allows you to maintain balance and easily move through the bushes. Monkeys that live on land have a much shorter tail, and those primates that are similar to humans have no tail at all.

The body of monkeys is covered with hair, their color can be from light red to black, it all depends on where the monkey lives and what species it belongs to.

Monkeys, like humans, when they reach a certain age, turn gray and may go bald; this applies more to males.

Monkeys have fairly developed limbs, especially the upper ones; like humans, they have five fingers, only the tips of the fingers are covered with rough nails. Also, the development of the limbs largely depends on how and where the monkey lives; it is believed that the most developed primates are those that live in trees.

The teeth of primates are similar to those of humans, but monkeys with a narrow nose have a different oral cavity, as well as monkeys with a narrow nose and broad-nosed monkeys different numbers of teeth, the first have 32, the second have 36.

Such mammals are distinguished by a developed brain, they are quite smart, especially the anthropoid species are able to understand well and also perform some actions meaningfully.

They communicate with each other using special signals, which consist of individual sounds and facial expressions. The most noisy are the monkeys; you can hear their squeaking for hours.

Their facial expressions are also well developed; they can express their dissatisfaction, joy, love, and can even tease.

Where do certain species of primates live?

Monkeys live all over the world in separate parts of countries and continents. Densely populated by monkeys are Gibraltar, Asia, Japan, China, Africa (with the exception of Madagascar), in the tropics of South America, and Australia.

Chimpanzees can be found in Western America, gorillas live in Africa, Mauritania, and Guinea. Orangutans love wet forests, which is why they inhabit Sumatra and Kalimantan.

A species of howler monkeys lives in southern parts Mexico, Brazil, Argentina.

There are quite a lot of monkeys and gibbons in Asia and Africa. Gibbons love the climate of India, Malaysia, as well as the humid tropics of Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, and China.

Hamadryas inhabit all parts of Africa, but baboons live only in certain parts of it - Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia.

How and how long do monkeys live?

Some species live in trees with dense crowns; it is comfortable for them to hide there, as well as shelter from rain and sun. Monkeys defend their place, so if another one tries to drive it away from its favorite bush, it will respond with aggression and a strong squeak.

Monkeys living on the ground move everywhere, they usually do not occupy separate places, and live in packs in the general territory of the forest.

Primates can live up to 45 years on average.

What do primates eat?

Monkeys are a special type of animal that eats everything, their diet depends on the places in which they live, on land or on the ground. Monkeys living in trees eat leaves, fruits, buds, nuts, and also eat large insects.

Primates that lead a terrestrial lifestyle consume plant roots and shoots, and they especially love fern leaves. In addition to fruits, special species eat fish, mice, lizards, and also like to feast on beetles and grasshoppers.

Types and photos of monkeys

The black howler is a monkey from the arachnid family. The primate received this name because of its roaring sounds, which can be heard 6 km away.

The males of such monkeys are black in color, while the female, on the contrary, is light brown. Howler monkeys live in Brazil, Bolivia, and Argentina.

The mourning capuchin is a special species of primate belonging to the prehensile-tailed family. The weight of such a monkey varies from 3 to 4 kg.

The animal's fur is light brown in color and has a black triangular tuft on its head. These primates feed on insects and tree shoots. They live in Brazil and Suriname.

White-handed gibbon - this type of monkey is similar to humans. Adults reach a height of 65 cm and weigh up to 5 kg. The coloring of such primates is brown, sandy, sometimes even light beige.

Such monkeys feed on insects, leaves, and fruits. The species lives in China.

There are a huge number of monkey breeds, they all live in different parts of the planet. The animal gets along well with people, can be trained, specially trained monkeys help people with disabilities move.

Photos of monkeys

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 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 portion 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.

Monkeys that live on the ground are characterized by a short tail, but anthropoid species don't have it 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. Also, the distinctive features of monkeys include the presence of opposition thumb. From general development An animal's lifestyle directly depends on its 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 intellectually developed animals, as evidenced by a number of different scientific research 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 sex and age, as well as social status specific 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 modern classification There are more than four hundred species of monkeys, 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 virgin forests Venezuela, Brazil and Suriname. Weight Limit the male is 3.0 kg, and the female is 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. Average length The torso 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. There is fur of black, brown or color on the body, but the area of ​​​​the arms and legs is always characteristic white. The basis of nutrition is represented by fruits, leaves and insects;
• Eastern gorilla (Gorilla beringei) is the most big 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 in the territories of almost all continents, including Europe, south and southeast Asia, Africa, tropical and subtropical regions of South and Central America, as well as Australia. There are no monkeys in Antarctica.

• chimpanzees inhabit the countries of Central and West 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. In the territories North Africa and in Gibraltar there are Magot macaques;
• Gorilla habitats presented 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 territory of 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 the 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 African countries, are the only ones of all the primates that inhabit northeastern part continent, including Sudan and Egypt, and are also found on the Arabian Peninsula;
• The distribution range of capuchins is represented by vast areas of tropical humid forest zones, ranging from Honduras to the territories of Venezuela and southern Brazil;
• baboons have become very widespread in the territories of Eastern 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 most warm regions Central America, Costa Rica and South America, found in almost all areas of the Amazonian 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 For variety, monkeys are quite capable of supplementing their plant diet with small vertebrates and insects. 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, after which the sweet plant juice is licked off with the 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 which they can easily fit a large number of stern.

Thanks to this structural feature, the path of passage of food increases, and food moves for quite a long time along 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.

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 particularly 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 drylands. Depending on the region, the animals have a red-brown color or gray shade. Many of these primates live on the island of Madagascar. Unlike most other monkeys, lemurs are night look life, mainly 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. Wherein certain type 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;
• hind limbs shorter than 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 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 in color. The facial part of the head is shortened, the nostrils are clearly separated, big 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 prehensile 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.

Monkey (anthropoid, great ape) is a mammal, closest in structure to humans, belongs to the order Primates, suborder dry-nosed primates, infraorder Simiiformes.

The origin of the Russian word “monkey” is quite interesting. Until the 16th century, the monkey in Rus' was called “opitsa” - the same as the Czechs now call it. At the same time, the Persians called the monkey “elderberry”. According to one version, Afanasy Nikitin brought this name with him from his travels and used it in his work “Walking across Three Seas.” According to another version, the monkey got its name from the word “abu zina”. At the same time, Ushakov’s dictionary clarifies that “abuzina” is translated from Arabic as “father of fornication.”

• Common chimpanzee ( Pan troglodytes)

a species of monkey whose habitat covers the forested areas of the tropics and humid savannas of the African continent, especially its western and central parts. Mature male chimpanzees reach a height of 140-160 cm, and monkeys weigh between 65-80 kg. Females weigh 40-50 kg with a height of 120-130 cm. The body of the animals is covered with very coarse, hard fur of a dark brown hue. Near the mouth and on the tailbone the fur is partially white, but the feet, palms and muzzle of the monkey are completely devoid of it. Common chimpanzees practically omnivorous, although the main part of the diet is still plant food. These monkeys happily eat nuts and fruits, sweet potato leaves and tubers, feed on mushrooms and termites, and feast on sweet honey, bird eggs and small vertebrates. There are often cases when a school of chimpanzees successfully hunts red colobus monkeys (primates from the monkey family) and even young ungulates, making up for the lack nutrients meat. Chimpanzee monkeys are the only primates capable of creating the semblance of tools that facilitate the process of obtaining food: they skillfully sharpen the ends of sticks and twigs, turning them into imitation spears, use palm leaves as traps for insects, and use stones in the form of projectiles.

• Pygmy marmoset ( Cebuella pygmaea)

this is the smallest monkey in the world. Adults grow up to 10-15 cm in length and weigh from 100 to 150 g. They inhabit the forests of South America and feed mainly on tree sap.

Reproduction of monkeys in nature

Monkeys are social animals and prefer to stay in packs, led by a dominant male and consisting of several females with offspring. Monkeys reproduce all year round and each type has individual characteristics.

Monkeys reach sexual maturity at 7-8 years of age. Some species form strong monogamous families for life. Other female species, such as capuchins, mate with multiple males and vice versa.

In such groups, there are frequent cases of infanticide, when male monkeys kill cubs born by a female from another male, because a nursing mother is not able to become pregnant.

Pregnancy of a monkey, depending on the species, lasts from 6 to 8.5 months, usually 1 baby is born, although marmosets often give birth to twins.

Breastfeeding various types monkeys have different periods, female gorillas feed their cubs with milk for up to 3.5 years and, accordingly, give birth once every 4 years. Although, some species of monkeys give birth every year.

Most female monkeys are caring and loving mothers, tenderly protecting their young. While the babies are growing up, the mother occasionally goes hunting, leaving the cub in the care of other female caregivers.

Young monkeys leave the group when they reach sexual maturity. Individuals of some species wander alone for a long time, others quickly create their own harems.

Despite the fact that monkeys are wild animals, they quickly get used to living in captivity and, with proper care, do well in zoos. These cute animals are favorites of spectators at circus performances: due to their well-developed intelligence, they are easy to train, despite their not very submissive disposition. Some brave souls keep monkeys at home, although this usually doesn't last long. Funny animals are terrible fidgets and mischief-makers, ready to constantly be on the move and cause chaos in the owner’s home.

If you do decide to get such a pet, keep in mind: it is advisable to keep a monkey at home in a spacious cage, or it is better to allocate a separate room for its habitat in order to avoid eternal chaos in the apartment. A domestic monkey can be fed fish and chicken or turkey, boiled eggs and cereal grains, fresh fruits, nuts, vegetables and insects (bugs, grasshoppers, caterpillars).

Don't forget that almost all monkeys have aggressive character, which is associated with natural instincts, and sometimes it is impossible to follow the change in their mood.

And one more nuance: you are unlikely to be able to train a monkey to “do its business” in a tray, so be prepared to clean up after it often, using products to remove unpleasant odors and disinfection.

• Nobody questions the intelligence of monkeys anymore. During an experiment conducted by one of the American universities, a female gorilla was taught a certain number of words from the language of the deaf and dumb, after which the animal began to communicate quite adequately with people.
• Some species of monkeys are very clean and devote a fifth of the day to caring for their appearance.
• Over the entire history of astronautics, 32 monkeys have flown into space.
• Night monkeys are the only family of primates that are nocturnal. During the day they rest in the hollows of trees, and 15 minutes after sunset they actively go about their business until midnight. Then they rest again for about 2 hours and again go in search of food before dawn.
• Capuchins are rightfully considered the smartest monkeys America. Before eating the nut, they crack the shell with stones or sharp tree branches. And before eating a frog, they wipe the mucus off it on the bark of trees.
• Spider monkeys can hang from a branch using only their tail, without using their limbs.

No animal attracts as much interest from people as monkeys. And all because they are our closest relatives, both physiologically and intellectually. Monkeys form a separate infraorder of Apes in the order of Primates. Among primitive animals, their close relatives are tarsiers, lemurs, tupai, lorises, bats, and distant ones - insectivorous mammals. This relationship debunks one of the most persistent myths about monkeys as the most perfect creatures on the planet. In reality, they only have developed intelligence, which is due to the specifics of their environment, but the physiology of monkeys is at a rather primitive level.

The crested macaque, or crested baboon (Macaca nigra) is the first species of monkey to go down in human history as the author of selfies.

The body sizes of these animals vary over a very wide range: the smallest monkey is pygmy marmoset- weighs only 100-150 g, and the largest are gorillas, whose weight can reach 140-200 kg. Male orangutans are almost not far behind them, whose weight in rare cases can reach up to 180 kg (their females are much smaller).

Pygmy marmosets (Cebuella pygmaea).

It is clear that such a difference in size could not but affect the appearance. If you look in monkeys common features, then they are united by a rounded skull containing a large brain; small size of fixed ears; brow ridges outlining the eye sockets; large eyes adapted to see daylight; short mobile neck; muscular long limbs. It is characteristic that all monkeys have a clavicle - a bone that allows their forelimbs to move in different directions, in contrast to the paws of terrestrial quadrupeds, which can move mainly in the “back and forth” direction.

In the primitive broad-nosed monkeys of the New World, the facial part of the skull is relatively poorly developed, so their faces are flat. In the more advanced narrow-nosed monkeys of the Old World, the jaws protrude noticeably forward, for example, in baboons, which do not disdain hunting, this gives an almost canine appearance.

The male hamadryas (Papio hamadryas) yawns to show off his teeth to rivals. Such a grin is often used by baboons to bloodlessly strengthen discipline.

Broad-nosed and narrow-nosed monkeys They are called not so much by the size of the nose, but by the direction of the nostrils: in broad-nosed animals they are set apart, while in narrow-nosed ones they are directed forward. Male proboscis monkeys have a cucumber-like nose - it acts as a resonator, while females of this species have short and upturned noses.

Male proboscis whale, or kahau (Nasalis larvatus).

Rhinopithecus have very short noses with nostrils directed almost upward.

Male black rhinopithecus (Rhinopithecus bieti).

Compared to other animals, monkeys have well-developed facial muscles, since their grimaces perform a communicative function. The vision of these primates is binocular and color, which allows them to quickly determine the distance to objects and accurately identify them. Such vision is vital for the inhabitants of high crowns, who feed on a variety of fruits, leaves, and sometimes small animals.

The monkeys' front paws are five-fingered, with the first (thumb) finger extended, which allows them to grasp tree branches and manipulate objects. To obtain food, monkeys use tools, such as stones, twigs, rolled leaves, with which they break nuts, pull out ants, scoop up water, etc.

The brown capuchin or fawn (Cebus apella) uses a heavy stone to crush the shell of a hard nut.

However, in some tree monkeys the first finger can be reduced, in which case the paw is used as a hook, that is, the animal hangs on a branch, holding on to it with all four fingers. The hind legs of monkeys also have an extended toe: on the one hand, this allows them to hold on to branches more effectively, and on the other hand, it does not in the least interfere with walking and running on the ground. By the way, monkeys move by resting on the entire surface of their palms and soles, and only great apes (orangutans, gorillas, gibbons, chimpanzees) bend their fingers on their palms when walking, resting on their backs.

Monkeys' fingers end in nails; in small tree monkeys they sometimes have a arched shape, which makes them look like claws from the outside.

The tail is perhaps the most variable organ of monkeys. In great apes and magotes it is completely absent, in pig-tailed macaques it is short and does not play any role in movement, in other species it is long, but functions differently. For example, Old World monkeys use it as a balancer when jumping (and hussar monkeys also lean on it when standing), but among the broad-nosed monkeys there are many species with an extremely prehensile tail. Its lower surface is bare and has papillary lines similar to fingerprints, and the tail itself is very flexible and strong. All this allows its owner to wrap his tail around the branches, literally feeling their surface, and also hang on it. It is not for nothing that woolly, tawny and spider monkeys are sometimes called five-armed, implying that the tail replaces an additional limb for them. True, the smallest monkeys (marmosets, marmosets, tamarins) have a long tail that is not at all muscular; these species use it like squirrels, as a rudder when jumping.

A tawny monkey (Brachyteles hypoxanthus) with a baby moves along an air bridge between the trees.

Monkeys are characterized by thick hair without undercoat, but at the same time their palms, feet and partly their face are always bare. In some species, other parts of the body are naked: in geladas - the skin on the chest, in all baboons - ischial calluses, in uakari - the skull.

A baboon or yellow baboon (Papio cynocephalus) showing black calluses. In other species of baboons, these parts of the body are usually red.

The skin color of different species can be flesh-colored, bright red, blue, black, or even multi-colored, like the mandrill.

The unusual texture of the skin of the Nemean tonkotel (Pygathrix nemaeus) gives it a doll-like appearance.

The fur of monkeys is often colored black, brown, grey colour, few species are characterized by variegated colors.

Nemean tonzoboli are also among the most brightly colored monkeys.

Many species have decorations in the form of elongated hair growing on the head, face, neck, shoulders and forming, respectively, lush hair, a beard and mustache, a “hood”, and a mane. Such decorations can be characteristic only of males (for example, the mane of baboons) or of both sexes (for example, the mustache of the imperial saguina).

Imperial saguins (Saguinus imperator).

In general, monkeys are characterized by sexual dimorphism, which boils down to brighter colors and larger sizes of males. However, it is expressed differently in different species. As a rule, the strongest differences between males and females can be observed in polygynous species with strict dominance of the leader (baboons, proboscis monkey), less clear - in herd monkeys with less aggressive males (gorillas, macaques), and very insignificant - in monkeys living in pairs , where the male and female equally care for the offspring (marmosets, marmosets, tamarins).

Family of Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana).

All monkeys are heat-loving animals that live in the equatorial, tropical and subtropical zones of Asia, Africa, South and Central America. In Europe, monkeys are known only in the extreme southwest of the continent - on the Cape of Gibraltar. The Magots live here, but they also came to Europe with the help of people from their historical homeland - North Africa. The other northernmost habitat of these primates is located at Japanese islands. Here Japanese macaques managed to populate even the islands from temperate climate, where there is a lot of snow in winter. True, it is not their skin that helps them overcome the cold, but their intellect - these monkeys have learned to warm up in hot springs, where they spend almost the entire winter day.

Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata), while warming up in the water, simultaneously go about their daily activities: eating, picking each other's fur. This group indulges in an afternoon nap.

The favorite habitats of monkeys are dense forests with many fruit trees. A few species have mastered dry woodlands (monkeys), savannas (baboons), and rocky slopes (magots, geladas).

A flock of langurs hides from the torrential torrents flowing down a rocky slope in the Thar Desert. Most monkeys do not like water and even swim only when absolutely necessary.

All monkeys are herbivorous to one degree or another. Some of them adhere to an exclusively vegetarian diet, eating tree fruits, leaves, young shoots, seeds; these species include orangutans, gorillas, and howler monkeys. Others replenish protein reserves in the body by periodically eating eggs and chicks, small lizards, and crabs. These species include macaques, marmosets, and marmosets. Finally, meat plays a significant role in the diet of baboons; sometimes these monkeys even catch such large animals as baby gazelles and small antelopes.

A baboon with a baby gazelle it killed.

The nature of the diet also affects the lifestyle. Herbivorous marmosets, marmosets and gibbons live in pairs or small families, including close relatives (older children, grandparents). These monkeys are very peaceful, do not like fights, and mark their territory either with urine (marmosets) or with special songs (gibbons).

The common-toed gibbon, or siamang (Symphalangus syndactylus), performs its morning song. The pouch under the throat serves as a resonator for it, amplifying the sound.

Herbivorous orangutans living alone and gorillas with small harems are very calm. But these species can stand up for themselves on occasion. U schooling species the level of aggression is higher. For example, howler monkeys defend their territory and mates with deafening screams, and the calls of these monkeys are the loudest sounds made by animals!

Black howler monkeys (Alouatta caraya) guard the boundaries of their territory.

Omnivorous monkeys and macaques are moderately pugnacious, and baboons are even more aggressive. Troops of these monkeys have a male leader to whom all the others obey. Young males can get along with him only under the condition of complete submission, otherwise they will have to learn the power of his bites the hard way. Females play the role of powerless concubines, the fate of each of them depends on the taste of the leader: the favorites receive maximum care and food, the rest are forced to be content with the leftovers from the table of the stronger and luckier ones. In chimpanzees, intra-pack aggression is relieved either by sexual contact or by organized war against another pack. In the latter case, the winners can taste the meat of the vanquished. By the way, chimpanzees are the only monkeys that hunt other monkeys. And we are talking not only about clan disagreements, but also about monkeys that regularly get in the teeth of their larger “brethren.”

Two male baboons got into a fight. The teenagers felt who would win, and immediately supported the strong one. Although their participation in combat is symbolic, such training will allow them to gain the necessary experience and confidence to aspire to leadership in the future.

Regardless of the level of relationships within the troop, communication between monkeys is accompanied by complex forms of behavior. These animals are not alien to such feelings as friendship, love, envy, resentment, rancor, cunning, anger, grief and empathy.

This female chacma, or bear baboon (Papio ursinus), died of a cub, but even after its death she continues to carry the baby’s body on her back until the corpse is completely decomposed.

In case of danger, their calls not only indicate an approaching threat, but accurately identify it: there are separate calls indicating a leopard, poisonous snakes, a python, a monkey-eating eagle, an armed and an unarmed person. Thus, monkeys speak primitive speech, which at least contains nouns. In captivity, monkeys cannot reproduce human speech due to differences in the structure of the vocal cords, but they are quite capable of mastering the language of gestures or signals.

Gorilla Koko, who speaks sign language, explained to her keepers that she wanted to have a baby. But since the scientists did not allow her to mate, their ward was allowed to adopt the kitten. Coco was very attached to her adopted baby and cried when she had to be separated from him.

Monkeys do not have a specific breeding season. Mating occurs all year round. The female usually gives birth to one baby, rarely - two (twins are more common in tamarins). The newborn is born sighted, covered with short hair, but helpless. At first he hangs on his mother’s stomach, and later moves onto her back. Childbirth occurs in a flock and attracts increased attention to the young mother, her social status increases for some time. Male marmosets and tamarins deliver births to females and even eat the placenta; subsequently, they take an active part in raising the offspring: they carry the baby on themselves, and give it to the mother only for feeding time. Males of other monkeys take care of the young, allowing babies and teenagers more than is allowed to ordinary members of the troop, but special attention They do not show this to their own children. The childhood of monkeys is relatively long, which is due to complex forms of behavior - in order to gain the necessary experience, babies will have to watch adults for a long time and play with each other.

Baby gorillas and chimpanzees explore the world around them together. Although such a meeting is impossible in nature, in captivity the kids quickly found a common language.

Large apes have no natural enemies; only chimpanzees, as mentioned above, can die from the paws and stones of a neighboring flock. The situation is different for medium and small monkeys. Their enemies are primarily wild cats (leopard, jaguar, less often lion or tiger), all kinds of snakes, especially pythons and boa constrictors. At a watering hole, they can fall into the mouth of a crocodile. In South America and on the islands of the Philippine archipelago, monkey-eating eagles hunt monkeys. Their name eloquently makes it clear that they have achieved perfection in the business of catching primates. However, danger from the air can lurk for monkeys in other parts of the world, where they can be attacked by kites, hawks and crowned eagles.

A crowned eagle (Stephanoaetus coronatus) caught a monkey.

Monkeys are susceptible to human infections such as tonsillitis, flu, tuberculosis, herpes, hepatitis, rabies, measles, so in areas of mass tourism they are protected from contact with outsiders.

This baby gorilla was rescued from the hands of animal traffickers in the Congo. While the orphan gets used to his new home, workers at the rehabilitation center wear masks so as not to infect the baby with human infections.

But the human impact on these animals is not limited to just passive transmission of infections. For a long time, people have hunted monkeys: the natives ate their meat, more developed peoples simply destroyed them as pests Agriculture, raiding fields and plantations, white colonialists killed gverets for their beautiful fur, gorillas' paws were used to make souvenirs. Finally, with the advent of fashion for “love of animals,” many species of monkeys became desirable pets. Thousands of poachers around the world began to satisfy this demand, catching monkeys in the wild for resale. As a result, many species of monkeys are on the verge of extinction and are listed in the International Red Book.