Monkey See, Monkey Do: The Wonderful World of Primates
An unofficial international holiday takes place on December 14th: Monkey Day. Created and popularised in 2000, this holiday celebrates all non-human primates such as apes, tarsiers, and lemurs. In today’s blog, we jump on this celebration to teach you all about these adorable and highlight intelligent creatures. Join supporters such as Jane Goodall, Greenpeace, and the Louvre in recognise the incredible animals.
What is a Monkey?
A monkey, also known as a simian, are (mostly) tree-dwelling creatures mainly active during the day. Additionally, ‘ape’ may also swap be used. The ‘Old World’ category emerged about 60 million years ago. Then, the ‘New World’ variety about 25 million years later. A tribe or a troop refers to a group of monkeys.
Relationship with Humans
Many species of monkey have varied relationships with humans. They can appear as:
- Service Animals – assisting people with mobility impairments. They preform daily tasks such as feeding, fetching, manipulating objects, and personal care. However, as of 2010, they are no longer recognised as service animals in the US.
- Science Experiments. Ultimately, this is highly controversial because of their intelligence. They are involved in testing for: studies of infectious diseases; behaviour and cognition; reproduction; and genetics.
- Astronauts. Man is not the only mammal to have gone to space. In fact, they monkeys got there before their human counterparts. The first was Albert II who flew in the US-launched V-2 rockets in 1949.
- Fictional Characters. Such iconic figures include: the Monkey King in Chinese mythology; Curious George; and the winged monkeys in the Wizard of Oz.
- Religious Symbols. Most famously, they embody the principle: “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil”.
- Zodiac Signs. They represent the ninth animal in the Chinese zodiac. This will next appear in 2028.
Different Species
Although monkey is a catch-all name for most non-human primates, there exists a wide range in species. Let’s check some of them out!
- Capuchin. These monkeys have star power – appearing in many movies and television shows (such as Friends)! They thrive on the coast and are mostly found in Central and South America.
- Marmoset. This species only grows an average of 8 inches in height. What’s more, they have nails rather than claws and no wisdom teeth. Very active in nature, marmosets live on a diet of insects, fruit, and leaves.
- Gorillas. Unlike other monkeys on this list, gorillas dwell on the ground and are mainly herbivorous. They are two main types: Easter and Wester – with each having 4-5 subspecies. Additionally, they match human DNA at least 95%-99% and can learn to paint, speak in sign language, and process human emotions and concepts.
- Baboons. Native to the Arabian Peninsula and Africa, you wouldn’t want to run into a baboon in a bad mood. Their powerful jaws and canine teeth are sure to leave some damage! Alongside this, these monkeys have the relative ability to read.
- Orangutans. With iconic reddish-brown hair, orangutans are true introverts. Unfortunately, they are critically endangered due to loss of habitat, illegal trading, and many other issues.
- Chimpanzee. Recognisable by their coarse black hair, chimpanzees sit on the opposite side of the socialisation scale. They live in groups of 15-150 members and settle disputes without the use of violence. What’s more, these primates are known to makeshift tools from grass, leaves, stick, and rocks. They even make spears from sharpened sticks to hunt for small animals!
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