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Monkey Facts
Monkey Facts
Common Name
: Monkey
Order
: Primates
Suborder
: Haplorhini
Infraorder
: Simiiformes
Pravorders (living)
: Catarrhini, Cercopithecidae and Platyrrhini
Pravorders (extinct)
: Parapithecidae
Number of Species
: Over 260
17 Monkey Facts for Kids
Monkey is a common name for a group of primate mammals in the Simiiformes infraorder.
There are over 260 different species of monkeys worldwide.
Monkeys are divided into two different groups, Old World Monkeys and New World Monkeys.
Old World Monkeys live in Africa and Asia.
New World Monkeys live in South America.
A crab-eating macaque (Macaca fascicularis) is considered an Old World Monkey.
A southern muriqui (Brachyteles arachnoides) is considered a New World Monkey.
The mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx) is the largest monkey, males have an average weight of 71 pounds.
The pygmy marmoset (Cebuella pygmaea) is the smallest monkey, with an average weight of just 3.5 ounces.
Monkeys are mostly omnivores and eat fruit, leaves, nuts and insects.
All species of monkeys have opposable thumbs just like humans.
Monkeys live both on the ground and in trees.
Monkeys that spend their entire lives in trees are called arboreal.
A group of monkeys is referred to as a mission, tribe, or troop.
Baboons
(genus Papio) are one of the largest primates that are not classified as apes (hominoid).
The
howler monkey
(genus Alouatta) can howl so loud that it can be heard over 3 miles away.
The
spider monkey
(genus Ateles) is named after their long arms, legs and prehensile tails.
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Alligator Facts
Bat Facts
Cat Facts
Cheetah Facts
Coyote Facts
Crocodile Facts
Dog Facts
Dolphin Facts
Elephant Facts
Flamingo Facts
Fox Facts
Frog Facts
Giraffe Facts
Gorilla Facts
Hippo Facts
Horse Facts
Jellyfish Facts
Koala Facts
Lion Facts
Monkey Facts
Octopus Facts
Panda Facts
Penguin Facts
Polar Bear Facts
Shark Facts
Sloth Facts
Tiger Facts
Turtle Facts
Whale Facts
Zebra Facts
Monkey Pictures
A photo of a spider monkey.
Credit: Monkey Worlds
A photo of a capuchin monkey.
Credit: Monkey Worlds
A photo of a vervet monkey.
Credit: Monkey Worlds
A photo of a proboscis monkey.
Credit: Monkey Worlds
A photo of a rhesus macaque monkey.
Credit: Monkey Worlds
A photo of a squirrel monkey.
Credit: Monkey Worlds
Additional Resources on Monkeys
Monkeys: Facts, Types & Pictures
– Find more monkey facts for kids on the LiveScience website.
Monkey Species
– View a list of all the different monkey species on the Monkey Worlds website.
Monkey - Wikipedia
– Explore the wonderful world of monkeys on the Wikipedia website.