Monkeys and apesInteresting facts and information

• Great apes recognise themselves in a mirror - Chimpanzees, bonobos, orangutans and some gorillas pass the mirror self-recognition test, a sign of self-awareness; most monkeys do not.
• Many use tools - Chimpanzees poke sticks into termite mounds and use leaves as sponges, and capuchin monkeys crack nuts with stones.
• Apes can learn signs - Gorillas and chimpanzees in captivity, such as Koko and Washoe, have learned hundreds of signs to communicate with people, although scientists still debate how close this is to human language.
• They help each other - Some species share food, groom each other and warn each other of danger.
• They read emotions - Research shows that monkeys and apes can tell when another individual is frightened or angry and change their behaviour.

• Smallest monkey – The pygmy marmoset (Cebuella) of South America weighs only about 100 g.
• Largest primate – The eastern gorilla (Gorilla beringei), an ape, is the largest living primate; big males can weigh around 200 kg.
• Different groups — The mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx) is an Old World monkey, while gorillas and chimpanzees are apes, on another branch of the simian primates.
• The fastest monkey - The patas monkey (Erythrocebus patas) can run at about 55 km/h.
• A fifth hand - Spider monkeys have a prehensile tail, longer than their body, that can grip branches like a hand.

Monkeys and apes are primates adapted for life in trees or on the ground, with grasping hands, forward-facing eyes and large brains. They vary greatly in size and behaviour, but most have complex social lives and learn quickly.

Main physical characteristics

Special adaptations

• A gripping tail - Some New World monkeys, such as spider monkeys and howler monkeys, use their tail to hold on to branches and keep their balance.
• Limbs for climbing or walking - Tree-dwelling species have long, flexible arms, while ground-dwelling species have sturdy legs for walking and running.
• Facial expressions and gestures - Monkeys and apes use their faces and gestures to show emotions and intentions.
• Advanced thinking - Chimpanzees and other apes can plan, cooperate and use tools.

Monkeys and apes behave in very different ways, depending on the species, environment and social structure. Some live mostly alone or in pairs, while others live in large groups with complex hierarchies.

Social behaviour

• Mostly solitary - Adult orangutans spend much of their time alone, and mothers live with their young.
• Pairs and families - Gibbons usually live in small family groups led by a male-female pair.
• Large groups - Baboons and macaques can live in troops of dozens, sometimes over 100 animals, with clear hierarchies.
• Social roles - In many species, dominant males have priority, while related females form strong, long-lasting bonds.
• Rich communication - They use calls, facial expressions and gestures to warn of predators, keep the group together and attract mates.

Feeding and survival methods

• Flexible feeders - Their diet ranges from fruit and leaves to insects, eggs and sometimes meat.
• Tools - Some species use sticks to catch termites and stones to crack nuts.
• Memory and planning - Monkeys and apes remember where food grows and when it will be ripe.

Defence and survival strategies

• Alarm calls - Many monkeys have different calls for different predators, such as eagles, leopards and snakes.
• Escaping - They rely on agility and speed to escape predators.
• Fighting back - Baboons and macaques can gang up to drive away larger predators.

Monkeys and apes live in many habitats, from tropical forests and savannas to mountains and dry regions.

Habitat types

Geographic distribution

• South and Central America - Capuchins, spider monkeys, howler monkeys, marmosets and tamarins.
• Africa - Baboons, colobus monkeys, mandrills, chimpanzees, bonobos and gorillas.
• Asia - Macaques, langurs, gibbons and orangutans.
• Europe - The only wild monkeys are the Barbary macaques of Gibraltar, whose ancestors came from North Africa.

Human impact on monkey populations

• Deforestation - Tropical forests are cleared for farming, destroying monkey habitats.
• Hunting and illegal trade - Monkeys and apes are hunted for bushmeat or captured to be sold as pets.
• Conflict with people - In some towns, macaques are seen as pests because they steal food and can be aggressive.

Monkeys are adaptable, but many species are threatened by habitat loss and human activity.

Most monkeys and apes are omnivores and eat a wide range of foods, from fruit and leaves to insects, eggs and meat. Their diet varies with the species, habitat and season.

Types of food

Feeding methods

• Planning ahead - Monkeys and apes remember where certain fruits grow and plan their routes.
• Using tools - Some species use sticks to fish for termites, stones to crack nuts or leaves to soak up water.
• Hunting together - Chimpanzees sometimes hunt as a group, for example to catch colobus monkeys.
• Self-medication - Chimpanzees swallow rough leaves and chew bitter plants that help get rid of intestinal parasites.

Their varied diet makes monkeys and apes highly adaptable, but environmental change and deforestation reduce their food supply.

Monkeys and apes breed slowly compared with most mammals of their size. Depending on the species, the young are raised by the mother alone, by both parents or with help from the group.

Life cycle stages

Reproductive behaviour

• Group-living monkeys - In macaques, baboons and capuchins, dominant males usually father most of the young.
• Pairs and loners - Gibbons usually live in pairs, while orangutans meet mainly to mate; both breed slowly.
• Caring for the young - Mothers do most of the work, but in marmosets and tamarins fathers and older siblings carry the babies.

Because they breed slowly, threatened species of monkeys and apes recover slowly when their habitats are lost.

Monkeys and apes belong to the primates, the group that also includes lemurs, lorises and humans.

Origin of the name

• The origin of the English word "monkey" is uncertain; it may come from Low German Moneke, the name of an ape's son in the medieval tales of Reynard the Fox.
• The scientific name Simiiformes comes from the Latin simia, "ape", and refers to the infraorder of simian primates.
• Other names - singe in French, maimuță in Romanian and saru (猿) in Japanese.

Taxonomic classification

Monkeys in history and culture

• Hindu mythology - Hanuman, a god with the form of a monkey, stands for strength, loyalty and devotion.
• Relationship to humans – Humans are apes too. Chimpanzees and bonobos are our closest living relatives, and all monkeys and apes share a common ancestor.

Monkeys and apes are among the most studied animals because they are so similar to us, and they are important in both science and culture.

In many cultures, monkeys are symbols of cleverness, mischief and energy. Because they look so much like people, they have been honoured, feared or mocked in myths and religions.

Monkeys in mythology and religion

• Hinduism - Hanuman is one of the most loved figures in Indian mythology, a symbol of strength, devotion and protection. In the Ramayana, he helps Lord Rama rescue his wife Sita from the demon king Ravana.
• Japan - The Three Wise Monkeys, carved on the Tōshō-gū shrine in Nikkō, illustrate the saying "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil".
• China - The Monkey is one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac, and people born in its years are said to be clever, creative and playful.

Monkey symbolism

• Cleverness and cunning - Monkeys are often linked with tricks and quick thinking.
• Energy and curiosity - They are seen as agile, playful and mischievous.
• A link between humans and nature - Because they resemble humans, monkeys are often seen as a bridge between the animal and human worlds.

Many species of monkeys and apes are threatened, mainly by deforestation, hunting and illegal trade.

Conservation status

Main threats

1. Deforestation - Habitat loss is the main cause of the decline of monkeys and apes.
2. Hunting and illegal trade - Monkeys and apes are captured for meat, traditional medicine or the pet trade.
3. Conflict with people - In some areas, monkeys raid crops and are killed by farmers.
4. Climate change - Rising temperatures and extreme weather affect food supplies and breeding.

Conservation efforts

• Protected areas - National parks and reserves, such as those in Borneo and Central Africa, protect threatened species.
• Rescue and release - Orangutans rescued from the pet trade or from destroyed forests are cared for and returned to the wild.
• Fighting illegal trade - International agreements and organisations work to stop the trafficking of monkeys and apes.
• Research and monitoring - Scientists use camera traps, GPS collars and surveys to follow populations and protect them better.

Although many species are declining, conservation work gives hope for their future.

Monkeys and apes appear in films, books, comics and video games, often as funny, clever or villainous characters.

Monkeys in literature

• Planet of the Apes (Pierre Boulle, 1963) - A science-fiction novel about a planet where apes rule over humans.
• The Jungle Book (Rudyard Kipling, 1894) - The Bandar-log monkeys are shown as noisy and chaotic.
• Journey to the West (China, 16th century) - Its hero, the Monkey King Sun Wukong, is a clever and powerful monkey from Chinese legend.
• Curious George (H. A. and Margret Rey, from 1941) - Picture books about a curious little monkey and his adventures.

Monkeys and apes in film and television

• Planet of the Apes (1968 - present) - A series of films in which intelligent apes take over the world.
• King Kong (1933 and later remakes) – Kong is a giant ape, not a monkey.
• Tarzan (Disney, 1999) – Tarzan is raised by a family of gorillas.
• Curious George (2006 - present) - A film and an animated series based on the classic books.

Monkeys in video games and comic books

• Donkey Kong - One of the most famous video game characters, an ape who first appeared in 1981.
• Super Monkey Ball - A video game in which players roll monkeys inside balls through obstacle courses.
• Detective Chimp (DC Comics) - A highly intelligent chimpanzee who solves mysteries.

Monkeys as a cultural symbol

• In logos and advertising - Monkeys stand for energy, cleverness and fun.
• In design and fashion - Pictures of monkeys appear on clothes, accessories and decorations because of their playful image.
• In science - Monkeys and apes are studied to understand human behaviour and evolution.