Monkey

Many people are incorrect when it comes to deciding what is a monkey and what isn't. It is a common misconception that all primates are monkeys. However, an animal such as a chimpanzee or gorilla may not truly be classified as a monkey.

So what differentiates a monkey from other primates?

1. Most monkeys have tails, but no apes or homonoids have tails
2. Monkeys cannot easily swing between trees like apes due to a different bone structure
3. A monkey typically runs across branches rather than swinging between them
4. Genetically, the ape is much more closely related to humans than the monkey

Types of monkey

Well known primates that may be correctly labeled as a monkey include:

• Baboon
• Howler monkey
• Proboscis monkey
• Squirrel monkey
• Spider monkey
• Tamarin

Monkey in the Chinese Zodiac

The year of the monkey occurs every 12 years, and is the ninth year in the cycle of the Chinese Zodiac. Many people are interested to find out which year of the Chinese Zodiac they were born.

Each animal is also cycled through five elements - earth, metal wood, wind and fire. The next year of the monkey is the Fire Monkey, 2016.

Monkey conservation

If you're interested in the ongoing conservation issues surrounding apes and monkeys, please visit Monkey World to learn more. Alternatively, try the RSPCA, the UK's largest animal charity.