Old World Monkeys
Old World Monkeys is a name for a family of primates in the family of Cercopithecidae. They include baboons, red colobus, macaques, etc. These monkeys show different characteristics and physical features. Talapoin is the smallest, while male mandrill is the largest. Baboons are terrestrial, while colobus monkeys are arboreal. Some Old World monkeys have flat noses while others have snouts. Besides, most have tails, which may show coloration. We mostly find them in shrublands, savannahs, mountainous regions, and tropical rain forests of Africa and Asia. These land animals are omnivorous and opportunistic, capable of snatching food from your hand.
New World monkeys are found in America. They have a prehensile tail, enabling them to climb trees faster. They also have a high rate of reproduction and a shorter lifespan. Old World monkeys, on the other hand, are usually large and have a downward-pointing nostril, two premolars, and a non-grasping tail. Besides, we can find Old World monkeys in Africa and Asia.
The tails of Old World monkeys are just for providing balance and support when moving among trees and during feeding, but not for grasping or holding an object or food like those of New World monkeys. Some species of Old World monkeys have long tails and others have short tails.
Old World monkeys are browsers. Their diet includes fruits, flowers, leaves, rhizomes, insects, and even small mammals. Apart from these, they can also eat handouts and even garbage. This partial omnivore feature makes them easily adaptable to most environments. Thus, you can easily find them in zoos or people’s houses as pets.
