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'''Monkeys''' are a group of [[Primate|primates]] found in both the [[New world|"New"]] and the [[Old world|"Old" World]]. The term "monkey" is actually a [[Layperson|laypersons]] term for any one of the generally small-bodied and often distantly related primates that do not fall into the classification of [[Prosimian|prosimians]] or the | {{Image|Pygmy-marmoset.jpg|right|350px|The [[pygmy marmoset]] of [[South America]] is the world's smallest true monkey, generally up to about six inches (15 centimetres) long excluding the tail, which is can be up to 7.9 inches (20 centimetres).}} | ||
'''Monkeys''' are a group of [[Primate|primates]] found in both the [[New world|"New"]] and the [[Old world|"Old" World]]. The term "monkey" is actually a [[Layperson|laypersons]] term for any one of the generally small-bodied and often distantly related primates that do not fall into the classification of [[Prosimian|prosimians]] or the generally larger bodied [[Ape|apes]] and [[Hominin|humans]]. There are two basic types of monkeys - platyrrhines and catarrhines.<ref name="Fleagle">{{cite book|title=Primate Adaptation and Evolution|accessdate=|author=J. Fleagle|authorlink= |coauthors= |date=1998 |format= |work= |publisher=Academic Press: New York|pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= }}</ref><ref name="Szalay">{{cite book |title=Evolutionary History of the Primates|accessdate=|author=F. Szalay and E. Delson|authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2001 |format= |work= |publisher=Academic Press, New York|pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= }}</ref> [[South America|South American]] monkeys are known as platyrrhines and differ substantially from the catarrhines monkeys, having evolved largely in isolation.<ref name="Fleagle"/><ref name="Szalay"/> | |||
===Platyrrhine monkeys=== | ===Platyrrhine monkeys=== | ||
The name platyrrhine is derived as a descriptive term of the monkeys faces, since South American monkeys have broad, flat noses. All platyrrhine monkeys are small - the largest is only around 10kg<ref name="Fleagle"/> | The name platyrrhine is derived as a descriptive term of the monkeys' faces, since South American monkeys have broad, flat noses. All platyrrhine monkeys are small - the largest is only around 10kg.<ref name="Fleagle"/> They also exhibit many [[primitive]] dental and skeletal features including having three [[pre-molars]] in each side of their [[mandible]] and [[maxilla]] - thus they have a total of twelve premolars.<ref name="Szalay"/> | ||
All platyrrhines have a [[tail]] of some sort and five [[genera]] have [[prehensile | All platyrrhines have a [[tail]] of some sort and five [[genera]] have [[prehensile tail]]s.<ref name="Fleagle"/> The most well known of the prehensile-tailed monkeys is probably the [[spider monkey]]. Interestingly, the spider monkey has no [[thumb]].<ref name="Fleagle"/> | ||
===Catarrhine monkeys=== | ===Catarrhine monkeys=== | ||
Catarrhines monkeys are "Old World Monkeys" and all fall under the Superfamily Cercopithecidae<ref name="Szalay"/> | Catarrhines monkeys are "Old World Monkeys" and all fall under the Superfamily Cercopithecidae.<ref name="Szalay"/> They have narrow noses, eight pre-molars and none have prehensile tails.<ref name="Fleagle"/> There are two Subfamilies within the Superfamily - Cercopithecinae and Colobinae.<ref name="Szalay"/> There are approximately sixty species of cercopithicus monkey and about forty species of colobus monkey. | ||
== | ==Footnotes== | ||
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Latest revision as of 07:00, 21 September 2024
Monkeys are a group of primates found in both the "New" and the "Old" World. The term "monkey" is actually a laypersons term for any one of the generally small-bodied and often distantly related primates that do not fall into the classification of prosimians or the generally larger bodied apes and humans. There are two basic types of monkeys - platyrrhines and catarrhines.[1][2] South American monkeys are known as platyrrhines and differ substantially from the catarrhines monkeys, having evolved largely in isolation.[1][2]
Platyrrhine monkeys
The name platyrrhine is derived as a descriptive term of the monkeys' faces, since South American monkeys have broad, flat noses. All platyrrhine monkeys are small - the largest is only around 10kg.[1] They also exhibit many primitive dental and skeletal features including having three pre-molars in each side of their mandible and maxilla - thus they have a total of twelve premolars.[2]
All platyrrhines have a tail of some sort and five genera have prehensile tails.[1] The most well known of the prehensile-tailed monkeys is probably the spider monkey. Interestingly, the spider monkey has no thumb.[1]
Catarrhine monkeys
Catarrhines monkeys are "Old World Monkeys" and all fall under the Superfamily Cercopithecidae.[2] They have narrow noses, eight pre-molars and none have prehensile tails.[1] There are two Subfamilies within the Superfamily - Cercopithecinae and Colobinae.[2] There are approximately sixty species of cercopithicus monkey and about forty species of colobus monkey.