Where the monkeys live: their habitat

Monkeys are lovely and charming creatures, you can always admire. They belong to the higher primates. Surely you have heard this word many times, but do you know its meaning? The word "primacy" can be translated as "first", although the monkeys excel other animals only by better intelligence. As for dexterity, scent, sight and hearing, in many other species they are at a higher level.

Basic information about monkeys

There are many different kinds of these animals, but they are in many respects similar. They all have a pair of hands and feet (like a human), a tail or something similar to it. The thumbs of the monkeys are located at a decent distance from the rest, so they can easily climb trees. Almost all these animals are omnivorous, but they eat a lot of things that a person would not like (also a primacy, by the way). These are insects, fruits, bird eggs, and grains, and leaves, and grass. There are also reports that they eat even crustaceans.

Lifetime and habitat

How many live monkeys? It depends on the species. Some live up to 20 years, and others - up to 60. In this they are very different, but what else they have in common? The first thing that comes to mind is that all monkeys, without exception, are able to deftly move from one branch to another. Just imagine: some species do not get off the tree all their life. For example, the royal gvertsa, who lives in Africa, can eat only flowers and leaves. And that, quite a healthy diet.

But there are monkeys who prefer to live only on the land, and trees completely ignore. As an example, baboons can be cited. Where do monkeys of this species live? They gather in groups of 250-300 individuals and constantly "travel", not staying long in one place. Older males go first, while younger males make a column. Their task is to protect the herd from enemies. There are also individuals who tend to stay away, they go some distance from the column. Baboons are very close-knit and bold animals. For example, if a leopard prepares to attack a monkey lagging behind a column, 150 individuals may flee to her scream. Of course, the leopard becomes uncomfortable with such an army. But other species do not differ in boldness and at any risk run up in different directions and jump on trees.

Where do monkeys live?

Mostly they live in the Asian, African and South American subtropical and tropical regions. As for South America, the area where primates live is stretched from the northern part of Argentina to the southern part of Mexico. It is also impossible to forget about Africa, where monkeys live. This country (especially just south of the Sahara) is simply teeming with them. Contrary to popular belief, in Madagascar monkeys do not live, there live only lemurs. Let's talk about Asia. There most of all monkeys can be found in the southeast, as well as the southern part. The distribution extends up to Timor and Japan. One species of monkeys (magot) lives in Europe, and more specifically, in Gibraltar. There is an opinion that he was brought here by people.

As you already know, most monkeys live among trees, mostly in forests (any: mountain, wet, etc.). Some species live on branches as well as on the ground, for example gelad.

Where do snow monkeys live?

There is an opinion that all these animals adore a warm climate and can not live in the cold. If we talk about the vast majority of monkeys, then this is true. But do not forget about the exceptions.

On the large island of Honshu, which is in Japan, live snow monkeys. You can say that they are very hardened - they are not afraid of cold.

Inhabit the snow monkeys in Igodukan (the so-called known reserve). If you translate this name into Russian, it will mean "Hell Valley". This area is remarkable for its great natural variety: here is ice, and hot water, and geysers. The monkeys living here have a very impressive thick hairline, because of which they seem rather thick and powerful, although this is not so.

These animals do not suffer much from the cold, but to freeze them, of course, is unpleasant, and therefore they dive into a hot spring and sit there long enough. Where monkeys of this species live, there are plots on which steam is pouring from under the earth, something like a bath reminds one. Primates like to sit there and bask. Only towards evening, when it gets a little warmer, the animals get out of the water and leave the steam to dry. Also at this time they eat.

Snow monkeys like to dig into the wool of relatives, so that it dries faster. But other species often do the same. From the side it seems that they choose fleas, although this is not true. Monkeys are clean, they do not have these insects in their wool. In fact, this action is a demonstration of gratitude and love to its kindred.

What do these animals eat?

What do snow monkeys eat? After all, the fruits do not grow in the snow. Well, monkeys are used to do without them. They trample down paths in the snow and walk along them in a line, taking roots, berries, leaves, insects from the drifts. They also eat pine needles, buds of trees and bark.

Now you know where the monkeys live, what they eat and how they behave.