Monkeys are divided into two geographically separate groups – the New World monkeys of South America and the Old World monkeys, found in Africa and Asia.
The Old World monkeys include some terrestrial species such as the baboons, while New World monkeys are exclusively arboreal.
Some New World monkeys have a prehensile, or grasping, tail. The tail can be used like a hand.
Prosimians – RING TAILED LEMUR, INDRI , SLOW LORIS, TARSIER, DWARF & MOUSE LEMUR, AYE-AYE.
New World Monkeys – SPIDER MONKEY, RED HOWLER MONKEY, SQUIRREL MONKEY, SADDLE BACK TAMARIN, LION TAMARIN, OWL MONKEY, MARMOSETS, TITI MONKEY, SAKI MONKEY, AND UKARIS.
Old World Monkeys – JAPANESE MACAQUE, RHESUS MACAQUE, GELADA, HAMADRYAS BABOON, HANUMAN LANGUR, RED COLOBUS MONKEY, BLACK COLOBUS MONKEY, PATAS MONKEY, AND SAVANNA BABOON.
Apes – CHIMPANZEE, BONOBO, GORILLA, GIBBON, ORANGUTAN, AND AUSTRALOPITHECINES.
Snow Monkey
Weight: 8 to 13 kilos.
Body Length: 45″ to 55″
Prehensile Tail Length: 7″ to 9″
Average Lifespan: 25 to 30 years.
Native to: Northern Japan. (See Map)
Breeding: October – December.
Sexual Maturity: Female; 2 to 3 years. Male; 4 to 5 years.
Gestation Period: around 170 days.
No. of Offspring: 1
Diet: Shoots, Leaves, Insects, Fruit, Nuts – depending on season.
Snow Monkeys live in areas where the temperature is an average of -10ºC. The older a Snow Monkey
becomes the more red its face and bottom become. Groups of Snow Monkeys are primarily formed by
adult females, there are roughly three time the number of adult females than there are adult males and
young. Females tend to stay within their group their entire lives, but the males will often leave the group
for another before sexual maturity. Males tend to be a little larger and heavier than the females
Spider Monkey Facts
Weight: 13 to 25 lbs.
Body Length: 16″ to 20″
Prehensile Tail Length: 26″ to 34″
Lifespan: 20 to 40 years.
Native to: Brazil, Guiana, Ecuador. (See Map)
Breeding: Non-Seasonal
Sexual Maturity: 4 to 5 Years
Gestation Period: 225 to 230 days
No. of Offspring: 1
Diet: Fruit, Leaves, Plants, Seeds, Nuts, Grain, Insects.
Spider Monkeys are very good climbers and are usually found in groups of around 30, often
broken up into smaller sub-groups of around 3 or 4. They have hook-like fingers, but no thumb,
and the tip of their tail can support the weight of their entire body. They will use all five
appendages; arms, legs and tail, to scramble through trees. The Spider Monkey offspring are
dependent on their mothers for the first 2 to 3 years, with the females giving birth every 3 to 4
years. Females tend to be a little larger and heavier than the males.
Colobus monkeys
Weight: 30 lbs
Body Length: 62″
Tail length: N/A
Lifespan: 20 to 24 years
Native to: Central Africa from Cameroon to Ethiopia and Tanzania
Breeding: N/A
Sexual Maturity: N/A
Gestation period: 5 to 6 months
No. of offspring: 1
Habitat: Primary and secondary forests along river banks
Diet: Leaves, buds, seeds, shoots, and occasionally fruit
Squirrel monkey facts
Weight: 1 to 3 lbs.
Body Length: 10″ to 14″
Prehensile Tail Length: 14″ to 18″
Average Lifespan: Around 15 years.
Native to: Peru, Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia. (See Map)
Breeding: Seasonal – Lasting 2 Months
Sexual Maturity: Female; 2 to 3 years. Male; 4 to 5 years.
Gestation Period: around 180 days
No. of Offspring: 1
Diet: Birds Eggs, Insects, Fruit, Nuts.
Squirrel Monkeys move through trees by leaping, Squirrel Monkeys tails are only partly prehensile.
They can be found in groups of anything from 10 to 200, often broken up into smaller sub-groups of
Female and infant, Adult Male, and Juvenile. They are the most common monkey in South-America. The
Squirrel Monkey offspring are dependent on their mothers for the 6 months, and when the female is
sexually mature, she will leave her family group in search of another. Males tend to be a little larger
OWL MONKEY
Appearance:
Fairly similar in appearance, white black and white facial markings, gray to brown colored
back, large eyes – the largest of any South American primate (for night vision,) and
non-prehensile tail. Difference is mainly in the undercoat and neck color. They are normally
11-16 inches long in body, with males slightly longer, and weigh around 2 pounds.
Red-necked owl monkeys are a bit heavier than gray.
Range and Diet:
Primarily Brazil, also found in southern Central America and as far south as Argentina.
Found in forest habitats. Fruit accounts for most of their diet, but they will also eat leaves,
flowers, sap, and animal prey.
What Is a Primate?
There are four kinds of primates: prosimians (pre-monkeys), monkeys, apes and humans. Primates are designed for life in trees. Most have opposable thumbs on both hands and feet for grasping branches. Their eyes face forward for binocular vision, which is necessary for depth perception and successful navigation in three dimensional space.
Prosimians, the most primitive of the primates, include lemurs (LEE-mers), lorises and bushbabies.
Lemurs live only on the island of Madagascar. Loss of habitat has greatly endangered their future. Currently the Saint Louis Zoo is home to six species of lemur. For years the Zoo has conducted extensive research on the reproduction and behavior of the black lemur and is well known for the success of its breeding program.
Monkeys are divided into two geographically separate groups – the New World monkeys of South America and the Old World monkeys, found in Africa and Asia. The Old World monkeys include some terrestrial species such as the baboons, while New World monkeys are exclusively arboreal. Some New World monkeys have a prehensile, or grasping, tail. The tail can be used like a hand.
Communication
Prosimians communicate extensively through scent marking. Scent marks can convey information on the individual’s sex, identity, reproductive state and possibly mood.
In contrast, monkeys rely more on visual means of communication such as postures and facial expressions. Sitting in close contact is actually a form of ongoing communication. Huddling with a companion confirms and reinforces positive social relationships.
Prosimians use a comb-like row of lower incisors and a specialized claw on the back feet for grooming, whereas monkeys use their hands. While grooming serves a practical purpose in ridding animals of parasites and dirt, its social function of building friendly relations is even more important.
Facial expressions can communicate a wide variety of emotional states and intentions. The open-mouth stare is a low-level threat. When the intensity of the threat increases, the primate leans forward with its head lowered and exposes its teeth more.
Pursing of the lips is seen in many contexts. It is often used to reduce tension, such as when two primates greet each other, or when an individual has been the recipient of an open-mouth stare.
Courtesy : Saint Louiis Zoo
Baboons
Idri
