Monkey Difficult

Some type of monkeys
October 03
A good day to engage in playful behavior! Ten interesting facts you may not be aware of about monkeys.
By An Qi

The "World Monkey Day" is an unofficial international holiday celebrated on December 14 every year. While it encompasses "all things simian," including other non-human primates like apes, tarsiers, and lemurs, the day is specifically dedicated to monkeys. Here are some fascinating details about our primate companions on this special occasion.

1. Avoid confusion with names

In Chinese, lemur, loris, and galago (bushbaby) are referred to as "fox monkey," "lazy monkey," and "baby monkey." However, these species are not actually monkeys. Instead, they are cousins of the monkey family. Tarsiers, known as "spectacled monkeys" in Chinese, are also not part of the monkey family.

Lemurs do not belong to the monkey family.

Neither do lorises!

2. Monkeys cannot evolve into humans

Monkeys, apes, and humans share a common ancestor that lived on Earth approximately 60 million years ago. This means that all existing monkeys are biologically related to us as distant relatives, not our ancestors. As a result, monkeys will never transform into humans, regardless of the amount of time given for evolution.

3. Differentiating monkeys from apes

One quick way to distinguish between monkeys and apes is by observing their tails. All apes, including humans, lack tails, while the majority of monkeys possess tails. The Barbary macaque is the only monkey species without a tail.

Alternatively, you can remember the following:

Monkeys: baboons, macaques, marmosets, tamarins, capuchins, and sakis

Apes: humans, gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, gibbons, and bonobos

4. World's smallest monkey fits in your palm

The pygmy marmoset can measure as small as 117 millimeters and has a tail length of 172 millimeters. It weighs just over 100 grams, approximately the weight of two eggs.

5. Even the largest monkey can confront hyenas

A male mandrill can stand up to 1 meter tall, with a weight of up to 54 kilograms. In the popular Hollywood film The Lion King, Mufasa's chief adviser, Rafiki, is portrayed as an aged mandrill.

6. The world's rarest monkeys

A total of 68 primate species are classified as "critically endangered" on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Among these, both the Myanmar snub-nosed monkey and the blond titi monkey have populations that number fewer than 300 individuals.

7. The intelligence of monkeys

Monkeys display a natural curiosity and are eager to explore new things. They use their hands to interact with their environment and learn through experience. Scientific studies have demonstrated that monkeys possess intelligence comparable to that of a three-year-old child when it comes to problem-solving. Some researchers even argue that monkeys pass on information from one generation to the next. They have their own language, social structures, and the ability to use tools, teaching younger monkeys much of their knowledge.

Wild macaque monkeys have acquired the ability to use tools, such as cracking open nuts and shucking oysters.

8. Monkeys have journeyed to space!

A total of thirty-two monkeys have ventured into space. The first primate astronaut was Albert, a rhesus macaque, who boarded a rocket on June 11, 1948, reaching an altitude of over 63 kilometers. Tragically, Albert suffocated during the flight. The following year, Albert II became the first monkey and primate to reach space successfully, reaching an altitude of 134 kilometers.

9. Monkeys' significant role in various cultures

Many Asian countries, including China, Japan, and India, hold the monkey god in high regard. Japanese folklore features the "three wise monkeys," symbolizing the principle of "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil." In India, the monkey god Hanuman is a prominent deity believed to bestow courage, strength, and longevity upon those who worship him. In China, the legendary character Sun Wukong, known as the "Monkey King," from the famous comedic fiction Journey to the West, is widely recognized and cherished.

10. Born in the Year of the Monkey?

According to the Chinese zodiac, the monkey occupies the ninth position in the twelve-year cycle. The next Year of the Monkey will occur in 2028. You can determine your zodiac sign by subtracting 12 from your birth year. For instance, if you were born in 2016, 2004, 1992, or 1980, you are categorized as a monkey according to the Chinese calendar.