A primate of the group Anthropoidea; two subgroups: the Platyrrhine or flat-nosed monkeys from the New World (includes New World monkeys and marmosets), and the Catarrhine or downward-nosed monkeys from the Old World.
These three groupings are the New World monkeys, the Old World monkeys, and the apes. The New World monkeys are classified within the parvorder Platyrrhini, whereas the Old World monkeys (superfamily Cercopithecoidea) form part of the parvorder Catarrhini, which also includes the apes. Thus, scientifically speaking, monkeys do not form a "natural group", in that the Old World monkeys are actually more closely related to the apes than they are to the New World species. Because of their similarity to monkeys, apes such as chimpanzees and gibbons are often called monkeys in informal usage, though biologists don't consider them to be 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 particular traits that they all share and are not shared with the remaining group of simians, the apes.Characteristics
Monkeys range in size from the Pygmy Marmoset, at 14-16 cm (5-6 inch) long (plus tail) and 120-140 g (4-5 oz) in weight, to the male Mandrill, almost 1 metre (3 ft) long and weighing 35 kg (75 lb). most New World monkeys have prehensile tails while Old World monkeys do not; Although both the New and Old World monkeys, like the apes, have forward facing eyes, the faces of Old World and New World monkeys look very different though again, each group shares some features such as the types of noses, cheeks and rumps.
Name
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word "monkey" may originate in a German version of the Reynard the Fox fable, published circa 1580.
A group of monkeys may be referred to as a mission or a tribe.
Monkeys in captivity
Historical use as pets by Western Europeans
When the British first began to explore Africa, young monkeys were often captured to provide entertainment during long voyages.
Suitability as pets
Although they may appear to be friendly and nice and can resemble human babies for some people, many people believe that monkeys should not be kept as, or thought of as, pets. While baby monkeys are usually as easy to keep clean as a human infant (by diapering), monkeys that have reached puberty usually remove their diapers and cannot be toilet trained. Monkeys cannot handle being away from their owners for long periods of time, such as family trips, due to their need of attention. Any surgical means to stem this behavior (such as removing the teeth or fingertips of the monkey) is widely considered cruel, and it is usually difficult to find veterinarians who will treat them: even exotic-animal veterinarians may not be familiar with them.
While a majority of monkey owners find other homes for them, such as zoos and monkey rescues, some people report having long and rewarding relationships with monkeys. Monkeys are known to get attached to their first owner, so switching from one to another can be traumatic to the monkey and may aggravate behavioral problems.
Legality as pets
In most large metropolitan areas in the U.S. it is illegal to keep monkeys as pets in the home;
As service animals for the disabled
Some organizations, such as Helping Hands in Boston, Massachusetts, have been training capuchin monkeys to assist quadriplegics and other people with severe spinal cord injuries or mobility impairments. After being socialized in a human home as infants, the monkeys undergo extensive training before being placed with a quadriplegic.
In laboratories
Macaques, especially Rhesus monkeys, and African green monkeys are widely used in animal testing facilities.
Some view the use of monkeys in laboratories as controversial. However, defenders of testing on monkeys say that it has led to many important medical breakthroughs, and that the prevention of harm to humans should be a higher priority than the harm done to monkeys.
As food
There are a lot of myths about Chinese habits which are mostly contrived, such as the stories about eating monkeys brains.
Monkeys are forbiden to be eaten according to Islamic dietary laws.
Classification
The following lists shows where the various monkey families (bolded) are placed in the Primate classification. Calling apes monkeys is incorrect.
ORDER PRIMATES Suborder Strepsirrhini: non-tarsier prosimians Suborder Haplorrhini: tarsiers, monkeys and apes Infraorder Tarsiiformes Family Tarsiidae: tarsiers Infraorder Simiiformes: simians Parvorder Platyrrhini: New World monkeys Family Cebidae: marmosets, tamarins, capuchins and squirrel monkeys (56 species) Family Aotidae: night monkeys, owl monkeys, douroucoulis (8 species) Family Pitheciidae: titis, sakis and uakaris (41 species) Family Atelidae: howler, spider and woolly monkeys (24 species) Parvorder Catarrhini Superfamily Cercopithecoidea Family Cercopithecidae: Old World monkeys (135 species) Superfamily Hominoidea: apes Family Hylobatidae: gibbons ("lesser apes") (13 species) Family Hominidae: great apes including humans (7 species)Monkeys in culture
Sun Wukong, a character who figures prominently in Chinese mythology is a monkey.
Monkeys are prevalent in numerous books, television programs, and movies.
However, pop culture often incorrectly labels apes, particularly chimpanzees, gibbons, and gorillas, as monkeys.
Conversely, due to their size (up to 1 metre) the Mandrill is often thought to be an ape, but it is actually an Old World monkey.
Zodiac
The Monkey is the ninth in the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar.
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