A Complete List of All Types of Monkeys, Animal Sake

Monkeys are some of the most fascinating mammals on Earth. They come in a huge range of sizes, colors, and behaviors, from the tiny pygmy marmoset that whispers in frequencies too high for human ears, to the colorful Mandrill that stores snacks in built-in cheek pouches. All monkey species fall into two major groups: New World monkeys from the Americas, and Old World monkeys from Asia and Africa.

New World vs. Old World Monkeys

Monkeys are classified into two groups: the New World monkeys, the species found in South and Central America, and the Old World monkeys, the species from Asia and Africa. Other than their range, there are quite a few differences between the two. While New World monkeys have tails they use efficiently, Old World monkeys generally don't use their tails the same way, and even when they do have one, they don't use it like their New World counterparts. Old World monkeys have versatile thumbs, and these thumbs compensate for the absence of a prehensile tail.

New World monkeys include species like marmosets, tamarins, capuchins, squirrel monkeys, owl monkeys, howler monkeys, spider monkeys, and woolly monkeys. Old World monkeys include macaques, baboons, colobus, langurs, mandrills, and mangabeys.

New World Monkeys

Pygmy marmoset monkey perched on a branch

Marmosets

Species of Callithrix, Cebuella, Callibella, and Mico

Marmosets are the smallest monkeys and live in the upper canopy of trees. They are just 5 inches tall and highly active. They are mostly found in Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, and Brazil. They feed on insects, fruits, and leaves. Long lower incisors let marmosets chew tree trunks and branches to extract gum. For communication, they whistle or make high-pitched noises that are inaudible to humans. Don't be fooled by their size, male marmosets are strong enough to fight off rivals and defend their territory.

Golden lion tamarin with bright orange fur

Tamarins

Genus Saguinus

Tamarins live in tropical rainforests, mainly in Brazil. Their body color ranges from shades of black, brown, white, and bright orange, making them easy to tell apart. Brown-and-white-furred tamarins are called "emperor tamarins," while those with bright orange fur are "golden lion tamarins." Their lower canine teeth are longer than their incisors. They are omnivores, and in captivity they can live up to 18 years. Their body size ranges from 13 to 30 cm.

Capuchin monkey sitting on a tree branch

Capuchins

Genus Cebus

Capuchins are not so temperamental and are one of the few monkey species sometimes kept as pets. They have cute white- or pink-colored faces and are commonly found in Central and South America. They grow up to 56 cm, with average-length tails, and come in brown, black, or white. They are omnivores that eat insects, birds' eggs, crabs, and fruits.

Squirrel monkey close-up showing distinctive black and white face

Squirrel Monkeys

Genus Saimiri

Squirrel monkeys are mostly found in Central and South American forests. They are 25 to 35 cm tall and live in the forest canopy. Their backs and extremities are yellowish orange, their shoulders are olive-colored, and they have a distinctive black and white face. They always move in large groups of 100-300 individuals. As omnivores they mainly eat fruits and insects, but occasionally also nuts, eggs, seeds, leaves, and flowers.

White-faced saki monkey with distinctive pale face

Saki Monkeys

Genus Pithecia

Saki monkeys have beards and a body covered in fur except around the face, which has a furry ring around it. Males are black with a pale face; females have gray-brown fur with white-tipped hair. They live in rainforests and are active during the day. About 90% of their diet is fruit, balanced with a small amount of insects, leaves, and flowers. They grow up to 20 inches in length and have a bushy tail. Saki monkeys are shy and not very temperamental.

Howler Monkeys

Genus Alouatta (monotypic)

The largest of the New World primates, howler monkeys have round, wide-set nostrils and short snouts. They live in South and Central American forests. They can sleep for 15 hours at a stretch and rarely leave their dwellings, making them arguably the laziest monkeys. Their howling can be heard up to 3 to 4 miles away, earning them the title of the world's loudest animal. The howling is linked to territory protection and guarding their mate. They eat fruits and leaves, and are known to raid birds' nests for eggs.

Spider Monkeys

Genus Ateles

Spider monkeys are well known for their jungle acrobatics. They are native to tropical forests of South and Central America and are one of the few endangered monkey species. They have long limbs out of proportion with their body, plus prehensile tails, making them one of the largest New World primates. They are brown and black in color. Female spider monkeys generally lead food hunts, but when food is scarce the group splits into smaller sections to search more widely. They gather together to sleep at night and are aggressive, shouting like howler monkeys when threatened.

More New World Monkey Species

Woolly Monkeys (Lagothrix), NW South America; thick soft gray-black fur (hence "woolly"); weigh on average 17.7 kg; eat mainly fruit plus seeds, flowers, insects; long prehensile tails; hunted for fur and food and now endangered.
Owl Monkeys (Aotus), also "night monkeys"; Central and South America; nocturnal with large brown eyes; no color vision; form strong male-female pair bonds; communicate with hoots, trills, and grunts; the only monkey species susceptible to human malaria.
Titi Monkeys (Callicebus), newly discovered in the Amazon Basin; 23-46 cm long with a long tail; known as "jumping monkeys" for their spectacular leaps; feed on fruits, insects, flowers, and birds' eggs; communicate with a purring sound like cats.

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Old World Monkeys

Baboons

Genus Papio

Baboons have long dog-like muzzles, close-set eyes, and heavy, powerful jaws. They have thick fur everywhere except on their muzzle. They are mostly ground-dwelling, living in open savannahs, woodlands, and hills across Africa. The most prominent type are "Hamadryas baboons," which were considered sacred in ancient Egyptian mythology. Most baboons are vegetarians, though some eat insects too, so they can be called omnivores. The smallest species weighs 14 kg and measures 50 cm, while the largest reaches 120 cm and weighs 40 kg.

Colobus

Genus Colobus

Colobuses live in Africa. They are light-bodied monkeys with long limbs that help them leap from branch to branch. Their long shoulder hair acts like a parachute when they plunge from the trees. Their diet includes flowers, fruits, and leaves. Unlike many monkeys, colobuses are shy and a bit reserved. Most are white in color, while some are brown. Deforestation in tropical Africa has threatened their survival.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the smallest monkey in the world?

The pygmy marmoset, with an average body length of 5.5-6.3 inches.

What is the largest monkey in the world?

The Mandrill, with an average length of 30-37 inches, is the largest monkey species.

What is the difference between New World and Old World monkeys?

New World monkeys live in South and Central America and often have prehensile tails they can use to grip. Old World monkeys live in Asia and Africa, generally lack prehensile tails, but have versatile thumbs.

Which monkey is the loudest animal in the world?

The howler monkey, its call can be heard up to 3 to 4 miles away.

Are apes the same as monkeys?

No. Apes (gibbons, orangutans, gorillas, chimpanzees, and humans) are Simians but not monkeys. They belong to a separate group with distinct anatomical differences.

Gray Langurs

Genus Semnopithecus

Langurs are mainly inhabitants of Asia, commonly found on the Indian subcontinent. They belong to the Old World group. Their size varies by species. They are mostly gray, with some being yellowish, all with a black face and hands. Langurs are uniquely adaptable, they can live in all types of seasons and environments. Apart from forests, they can be found in human settlements, on poles, rooftops, and outside temples. They are familiar to humans, harmless, and are herbivores.

Macaques

Genus Macaca

Macaques are the most commonly found monkey species, ranging from Japan to Afghanistan. Rhesus macaques, or rhesus monkeys, are inhabitants of Asia and northern Africa. They have black, brown, or gray fur. Macaques are social by nature, but they carry the herpes B virus (harmless to them but deadly to humans) making them unsuitable as pets. They are often found in zoos, research centers, and are used extensively in scientific studies.

Mandrill close-up showing vivid blue and red facial markings

Mandrills

Mandrillus sphinx

The Mandrill is most closely related to drills, a type of monkey, rather than baboons. Among all monkey species, they are the most colorful, with olive-colored fur and a face marked in blue and red. They are the largest monkey species in the world and are native to equatorial forests in Africa. Mandrills are omnivores with built-in cheek-sacs where they store snacks for later. Their size can reach up to 6 feet relative to human height.

Mangabeys

Genera Lophocebus, Rungwecebus, and Cercocebus

Mangabeys are classified into three categories based on physical features: white-eyelid mangabeys (Lophocebus), highland mangabeys (Rungwecebus), and crested mangabeys (Cercocebus). The former two were once considered the same genus, but it is now clear that Cercocebus is related to mandrills, while Lophocebus is related to baboons. They live in Africa, are black, dark brown, golden brown, or gray in color, and are quite large with long tails. They generally move in groups, and are among the rarest monkeys. They communicate through grunts and other vocalisations.

Monkeys vs. Apes

There is another category (Apes) which are not monkeys but are Simians. Apes include gibbons (the "Lesser Apes," with 13 species) and the "Greater Apes," which include orangutans, gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos (pygmy chimpanzees), and humans. Apart from the species mentioned above, there are many other monkey varieties in the world. There is a lot more to these funny and intelligent mammals than what is usually perceived. Without doubt, they are among the most fascinating mammals on Earth.

Word	What it means
Prehensile	Able to grip and wrap around objects. A prehensile tail works like an extra hand for holding branches.
New World monkeys	Monkey species that live in South and Central America. Most have prehensile tails.
Old World monkeys	Monkey species from Asia and Africa. Generally no prehensile tail, but have more versatile thumbs.
Omnivore	An animal that eats both plants and animals, most monkey species are omnivores.
Simian	The group of primates that includes all monkeys AND apes (though apes and monkeys are different branches).
Nocturnal	Active at night and resting during the day. Owl monkeys are the only nocturnal monkey species.

A Complete List of All Types of Monkeys You Wouldn't Want to Miss

New World vs. Old World Monkeys