Primate and New World Monkeys

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  • Topic: Primate, Monkey, Haplorrhini
  • Pages : 6 (1355 words )
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  • Published : September 17, 2008
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Monkeys range in size from the Pygmy Marmoset, at 140 to 160 millimetres (5-6 in) long (plus tail) and 120 to 140 grams (4-5 oz) in weight, to the male Mandrill, almost 1 metre (3.3 ft) long and weighing 35 kilograms (77 lb). Some are arboreal (living in trees) while others live on the savannah; diets differ among the various species but may contain any of the following: fruit, leaves, seeds, nuts, flowers, eggs and small animals (including insects and spiders).





Common Squirrel Monkey.
Common Squirrel Monkey.
Crab-eating macaque in Thailand.
Crab-eating macaque in Thailand.


o Suborder Strepsirrhini: non-tarsier prosimians
o Suborder Haplorrhini: tarsiers, monkeys and apes + Infraorder Tarsiiformes
# Family Tarsiidae: tarsiers
+ Infraorder Simiiformes: simians
# Parvorder Platyrrhini: New World monkeys * Family Cebidae: marmosets, tamarins, capuchins and squirrel monkeys (56 species) * Family Aotidae: night monkeys, owl monkeys, douroucoulis (8 species) * Family Pitheciidae: titis, sakis and uakaris (41 species) * Family Atelidae: howler, spider and woolly monkeys (24 species) # Parvorder Catarrhini

* Superfamily Cercopithecoidea
o Family Cercopithecidae: Old World monkeys (135 species) * Superfamily Hominoidea: apes
o Family Hylobatidae: gibbons ("lesser apes") (13 species) o Family Hominidae: great apes including humans (7 species)

Relationship with humans

The many species of monkey have varied relationships with humans. Some are kept as pets, others used as model organisms in laboratories or in space missions. They may be killed in monkey drives when they threatened agriculture, or serve as service animals for the disabled.

In religion and culture, the monkey often represents quick-wittedness and mischief.

As service animals for the disabled

Some organizations such as Helping Hands have been training capuchin monkeys as monkey helpers to assist quadriplegics and other people with severe spinal cord injuries or mobility impairments. After being socialized in a human home as infants, the monkeys undergo extensive training before being placed with a quadriplegic. Around the house, the monkeys help out by doing tasks including microwaving food, washing the quadriplegic's face, and opening drink...
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