Monkey | 台北市立動物園資訊網

NewWorldmonkeysliveprimarilyintropicalSouthAmerica,especiallytheAmazonrainforests;therangeofafewspeciesextendsnorthwardasfarassouthern ...

monkey, in general, any of nearly 200 species[1] of tailed primate[2], with the exception of lemurs[3], tarsiers[4], and lorises[5]. The presence of a tail (even if only a tiny nub), along with their narrow-chested bodies and other features of the skeleton, distinguishes monkeys from apes[6]. Most monkeys have a short, relatively flat face without great prominence of the muzzle, although baboons[7] and mandrills[8] are notable exceptions. The vast[9] majority of species live in tropical forests[10], where they move on all four limbs. All but the durukuli[11] of tropical Central and South America are active during the day, moving frequently in bands as they search for vegetation, birds’ eggs, smaller animals, and insects to eat. Monkeys are capable of sitting upright, and, consequently, their hands are freed for many manipulative tasks. Except for a few Old World forms, monkeys are predominantly arboreal, leaping from limb to limb in their travels among the t...