Monkeys clean and comb one another's fur. This behavior is called grooming and is a sign of friendliness and caring.
Monkeys also communicate with each other in a lot of different ways. Some of their talk is through sound. They hoot, howl, cry, holler, and shriek. The sounds that monkeys make can have different meanings. They can tell each other that they have found food or warn each other about danger. Another way monkeys communicate is by spraying their scent on trees. The scent can let other monkeys know who is around whose territory they're in.
Monkeys make pretty good moms, too.
When baby monkeys are first born they hang onto the underside of
their mother. After only a few days, the baby slides to the top
of the mother's back and rides piggyback. Mom monkeys groom
their babies, feed them, and take care of them until they are old
enough to take care of themselves.
Getting
Around
Monkeys can get around their habitats in
different ways. Scientists use three fancy words to describe
the ways in which they move around.
- Walking on all four legs.
- Swinging from trees by placing one hand over the other.
- Walking or running on only two legs.
Eating
Monkeys will eat just about anything.
Some of their favorite things to eat are insects, birds, butterflies,
bamboo shoots, eggs, frogs, fruit, flowers, buds, and leaves.
Several monkeys get their names from the types of things that they
eat. For instance, crab eating macaques live by the water and
eat crabs.
Leaf eating monkeys have special stomachs
that allow them to break down unripe fruit and leaves. Some
species of monkeys have cheek pouches so that they can store food in
their mouths for later.
Fun Facts
The
gray-cheeked mangabey
makes a very loud call that can be heard from over 5,000 feet
away!
When
titi monkeys cuddle they twist their tails together.
Baby
spider
monkeys sometimes are too small
to reach the branches when swinging from tree to tree. The mother
helps her baby by stretching her body out to make a living monkey
bridge. The little baby is then able to crawl across his mother
and grab onto the branch safely.
Monkey Jokes | Parent/Teacher Resources
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