Monkey ::: Project ETERNITY

A monkey is any member of two of the three groupings of simian primates. These two groupings are the New World and Old World monkeys. Because of their similarity to monkeys, apes such as chimpanzees and gibbons are sometimes incorrectly called monkeys. Also, a few monkey species have the word "ape" in their common name. Because they are not a single coherent group, monkeys do not have any important characteristics that they all share and are not shared with other groups, although many people see uncanny likenesses with humans when they encounter monkeys.

Monkeys range in size from the Pygmy Marmoset, at 10 cm (4 inch) long (plus tail) and 120 g (4 oz) in weight to the male Mandrill, almost 1 metre (3 ft) long and weighing 35 kg (75 lb). Some are arboreal (living in trees), some live on the savannah; some eat fruit, some eat leaves, and some eat insects; although most have tails (sometimes prehensile), others do not; some have trichromatic colour vision like that of humans, others are dichromats or monochromats. Although all, like the apes, have forward facing eyes, the faces of Old World and New World monkeys look very different. To understand the monkeys, therefore, it is necessary to study the characteristics of the different groups individually.

Classification

The following lists shows where the various monkey families (bolded) fall in the Primate classification. Note that the smallest grouping that contains them all is the Simiiformes, the simians, which also contains the apes. Calling apes monkeys is incorrect. Calling either a simian is correct.

Monkeys in pop culture

Monkeys are prevalent in numerous books, tv shows, and movies. The TV series Monkey, the books Monsieur Eek and Curious George and the assembled pop-rock band The Monkees are all examples.

However, pop culture often incorrectly labels chimpanzees, gibbons, even gorillas as actually being monkeys.

Monkeys as domestic pets

Generaly, monkeys do not make good pets. They are difficult to domesticate, destructive to property, unclean and will attack children. In most large metropolitan areas it is illegal to keep them in the home.

Zodiac

The Monkey is the ninth in the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar. See: Monkey (zodiac).

See also

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