Monkey

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Cebidae Aotidae Pitheciidae Atelidae Cercopithecidae

A monkey is any cercopithecoid (Old World monkey) or platyrrhine (New World monkey) primate. All primates that are not prosimians (lemurs and tarsiers) or apes are monkeys. The 264 known extant monkey species represent two of the three groupings of simian primates (the third group being the 21 species of apes). Monkeys are usually smaller and/or longer-tailed than apes.

The New World monkeys are classified within the parvorder Platyrrhini, whereas the Old World monkeys (superfamily Cercopithecoidea) form part of the parvorder Catarrhini, which also includes the apes. Thus, scientifically speaking, monkeys are paraphyletic (not a single coherent group), and Old World monkeys are actually more closely related to the apes than they are to the New World monkeys.

Due to its size (up to 1 m/3 ft) the Mandrill is often thought to be an ape, but it is actually an Old World monkey. Also, a few monkey species have the word "ape" in their common name.

For more information about Monkey, read the full article at Wikipedia.
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News tagged with monkeys


Opposites attract: Monkeys choose mating partners with different genes

Biology / Evolution

created Nov 24, 2009 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

The world's largest species of monkey 'chooses' mates with genes that are different from their own to guarantee healthy and strong offspring, according to a new research study.


New chameleon species discovered in East Africa

New chameleon species discovered in East Africa (w/ Podcast)

Biology / Plants & Animals

created Nov 23, 2009 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

A new species of chameleon has been discovered in Tanzania by a team of scientists.





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A year after discovery, Congo's 'mother lode' of gorillas remains vulnerable

A year after discovery, Congo's 'mother lode' of gorillas remains vulnerable

Biology / Plants & Animals

created Nov 23, 2009 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

A new study by the Wildlife Conservation Society says that western lowland gorillas living in a large swamp in the Republic of Congo—part of the "mother lode" of more than 125,000 gorillas discovered last ...



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