Monkey See

 Do you remember going to the zoo when you were younger?  I remember trying to get the monkey to mimic me.  Alas, times have changed and being called a "little monkey" no longer seems to be a term of endearment.  If you you think it is, just try to use that phrase in a classroom! 

Times have certainly change and I'm not so sure it is for the better.  However, you must admit, these actual "Little Monkeys" are pretty darn cute!   

The bare face of this tree-dwelling monkey may be from beige to nearly black. The hands and feet are black. The animals have very long toes and fingers that end in claws. Only the big toe (called the hallux) has a nail. The long “fingers” and claws help the monkeys to grab branches. They are also helpful in finding bugs in the crevices of the tree bark.

Surprisingly, Tamarins live in a monogamous family unit. This consists of a breeding pair and their offspring. Generally there are one to two litters, and perhaps additional extended family. All family members help raise the infants, which usually arrive as twins. Predators are birds of prey, snakes, and small carnivores.

Baboons travel in large groups. The group is generally around 50 individuals which would be comprised of seven or eight males and about twice as many females. Of all wild animals, the baboon is the one most likely to interact with people.

Baboons eat a variety of things including insects and small quantities of meat, such as fish, shellfish, hares, birds, vervet monkeys, and small antelopes. The major predator of baboons are human. The baboon is very intelligent but it can be an agricultural pest.

Baboons use over 30 vocalizations ranging from grunts to barks to screams. Nonvocal gestures include yawns, lip smacking and shoulder shrugging.

Baboons are very shrewd and crafty.  They are an agricultural pest. 

Baboons use over 30 vocalizations ranging from grunts to barks to screams. Nonvocal gestures include yawns, lip smacking and shoulder shrugging.

The baboons major predators are humans.

The adult body mass of a squirrel monkey is between 700 and 1100 grams.  Their teeth have large cusps which assist in eating insects.  The tail is prehensile in infants, not adults.  The soft, and brightly colored fur is short. 

The squirrel monkey is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guyana, Peru, and Veneuela.  There is also a small population in Florida.

The Golden Lion Tamarin Monkey is also known as the Golden Marmoset. It is a member of the family Cebidae. It is, of course, an endangered species and is among the rarest animals in the world. The estimated population is a mere 1,000, with a captive population of about 500,

Sporting a reddish orange to golden brown color, its hair is longer and darker the face. Limbs are slender and, of course, it has very sharp claws. It has a very long tail. This would lead us to think it is prensile. However, it is not.

The Golden Lion Tamarin is about 335mm in length (approximate 13 inches) and it’s tail can measure up to 400 mm (15 inches). It’s maximum weight is between 1.5 and 1.1 pounds.

Golden Lion Tamarins are omnivorous. Rainwater and insects are generally their diet in the wild. Rearing young is a cooperative adventure but only the dominant femail generally breeds. Breeding may occur at 18 months, with the breeding season extending from September to March.

Monkeys, in general, are cute, adorable, funny and wild. The emphasis is on the word "wild". This cannot be overstated enough. Even animals that have grown in captivity can turn aggressive at the drop of a hat. So please, do not feed the animals. Do not try to pet the animals. Do not tease the animals. Keep your belongings near you!

Monkeys are not native to North America. Monkeys are wild, no matter how friendly they seem. They are cute, they are funny, and they can attack on a moments notice.