New World monkeys, are primates that can be founded in Central and South America forests. Their sizes range from small to mid-sized. It is believed that they migrated across the Atlantic ocean to South America on  vegetation rafts. The Old World and New World monkeys can be distinguished from each other by several features, one being their noses. The New World monkeys have flat noses and are given the scientific name Platyrhini, which means “flat nosed.”  The Old World monkeys have narrow noses.

 1.  Calitrichidaethe -Pygmy Marmoset (NEW WORLD)

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Pygmy Marmoset, world’s smallest monkey, weighing approximately 4.2 to 6.7 ounces and its height range is 5.5 to 6.3 inches. The majority of marmoset monkeys are about 7.9 inches in length. Because of their diminutiveness, they are nicknamed “pocket monkey.” They still have some visible features of their primitive ancestry such as, claws instead of nails on all digits except the big toes, they have no wisdom teeth, but do have lower incisors for digging gummy sap from the trees in the upper canopy rainforests. Unlike other primates, the marmosets can be reproduced by germ line chimerism (physically mixing cells from two different organisms. They are not hybrids (fusion of two species like a donkey and a horse). They are animals that have two or more different groups of genetically distinct cells that originated in different zygotes ( the first stage of a unique organism when it consists of just a single cell). They live in groups 3 to 15 members, having one or two females that have offspring. Their mating practices include monogamy (having one husband, wife, or partner), polygyny (having two or more wives), and occasionally polyandry (having more than one husband). They are omnivores ( eaters of plants and animals) They are sometimes sold as pets and can live in captivity up to 11 years, however, if taken from its family, they can die depression or suicide.

 2.  Cebidae – Whit-headed Capuchin (NEW WORLD)

White-headed Capuchin, lives in groups of related females and offspring and a few males. The each group is dominated by one male. The groups are as small as 10 members or as large as 35 members. They are arboreal ( live in trees ) primates, therefore, they are rarely seen on the ground.  They weigh from 3 to 9 lbs and are 12 to 22 inches in length. Because they are omnivorous, (plants and meat eaters) their diet consists of fruits and insects.  Unfortunately, there are carnivorous (meat eaters) predators, such as coyotes, snakes, jaguars, cougars, even the crocodiles, that would love to make these little monkeys their meal-of-the-day.

3.  Aotidaes - Night Monkeys (NEW WORLD)

Night monkeys or Owl monkeys,  have excellent night vision. Their huge brown eyes give them the ability to see nighttime activities. They are said to be the only true nocturnal (night) monkeys. Externally, their ears are very difficult to see, therefore, the are called “earless.” Hoots, grunts, screams, moans, trills, and sneezes are just a few vocal sounds night monkey make to communicate. They are monochromats, (they possess no color vision). At night they travel in pairs, and live with mates and offspring in a group. they will defend their territory by scent marking. When a mother gives birth, (there is only one offspring a year). she carries it one week, then the father becomes the primary caregiver.

4. Pitheciidae – White-faced Saki (NEW WORLD)

White-faced Saki, are small to medium in size. They are very active all day and are also arboreal ( live in trees). However, they are herbivores (plant eaters). They eat mostly fruits and seeds. The White-faced Saki live in a polygamous (having multiple mates) family group of 8 to 30 monkeys. Other Saki, such as the Titis and the Pithecia, live in small monogamous groups.

5.  Atelidae – Spider Monkey (NEW WORLD)

 Spider Monkeys, are some of the largest monkeys amongst the entire New World primates. This is due to their disproportional bodies ( their legs are much shorter than their arms) and very long hairless tails (prehensile tail). With the assistance of the tail, they grip, swing and move from branch to branch,  Their entire weight can be support by its tail which is also used as an extra limb.   Their weight range from 13 to 20lbs and their length range from 12 to 25 inches. They live   is in an organized social group (fission-fusion society),that sleep close to 100-strong in one community, but by day they travel in smaller groups. Their diet consists mainly of ripen fruits and leaves. Predators, such as the jaguar, pumas, eagles and large snakes are always look for a good monkey meal. They are also, like the White-faces, a polygamous group. During mating, their embrace can last anywhere from 8 to 22 minutes.   Females give birth every 2 to 4 years, to one offspring 

The Old World monkeys are natives of Africa and Asia. They split from the New World monkeys about 40 million years ago. They are considered to be the super family of this group of primates. Their habitats range from the rain forests to savanna (a tropical grassland ecosystem) where the canopy of trees do not close, allowing sunlight to reach the ground to support the vegetation growth.  There are two named tribes in this group.

A. CERCOPITHECINI  TRIBE - small monkeys from the Old World

    1.  ALLEN’S SWAMP MONKEY (OLD WORLD)

 Allen’s Swamp monkeys, reside in the Republic of Congo, a country in Central Africa, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, a French-speaking country also a country located in Central Africa. These monkeys are very strong and are excellent swimmers partly because of their webbed fingers and toes. Watery swampy areas are their favorite hangouts.  The social group can consist of up to 40 monkeys. They search for their food, leaves, worms, and beetles,  on the ground.

     2. VERVET MONKEY (OLD WORLD)

 Vervet monkeys, are natives of sub-Saharan Africa ( located south of the Sahara desert), Senegal (a country located in western Africa), Ethiopia (located in the Horn of Africa), and South Africa (located at the southern tip of the country). Their faces, hands, and feet are black and has no hair, with the exception of a ring of air around the face. Their stomachs have bluish skin, their scrotum are blue, and their penises are red. These monkeys reside in trees and well as on land. They hunt for food on the ground during the day and sleep in trees at night. Their diet consists mainly of grasses and fruits. They have a large social group of about 80.  They are very territorial and if threatened, the enemy could receive a powerful bite.  Once males are mature they must leave the group, however, the females stay and become mothers. 

B.  PAPIONINI  TRIBE large monkeys from the  Old World

     3. HAMADRYAS BABOONS (OLD WORLD)

Hamadryas baboons, location range is from Egypt near the Red Sea, Eritrea( a country in northeast Africa), Ethiopia and Somalia. The ancient Egyptians looked upon this baboon as a sacred attendant of Thoth (Egyptians important deities). The males weigh about 45lb, and are twice the size of the female . When searching for food, they do not discriminate. They will eat insects, roots, grasses, and even small animals such as rabbits. Their lifestyle is strictly patriarchal (the male is the head of the family). When harems are formed there is a dominant male with up to 10 females.  The male guard and takes charge of all the females. The females mate only with the dominant male and do most of the parenting. 

    4. GELADA MONKEY (OLD WORLD WORLD)

Gelada monkeys, are sometimes called baboons. They are exclusive to the Ethiopian Highlands, sometimes  is called the Roof of Africa, a rugged and mountainous area. They are very distinguishable because of the red patch on both the male and the females chests. This is another group that forms harems with one dominant male and several females and the offspring. Their diet consists of plants and seeds.      

      5. MANDRILL  (OLD  WORLD)                                                                                                                                                                           

Mandrills – are largest species of monkeys in the world. The males weigh between 55-60 lbs, and the females weigh between 25-30 lbs.  31 years is the longest they have survived in captivity. The Oxford dictionary gives the meaning of “mandrill” to be “man-ape.” The rain forests of Gabon (west central Africa), Cameroon(central and western Africa), and the Congo (central Africa), is where they call home.  They are very sociable and live in large groups that are ruled by a dominant male. Their diet consist of plants, insects, and small animals as large as a small antelope.  Females give birth after 6-7 months and their babies are born with their eyes open and hair on their bodies.