According to the Chinese Horoscope, 2016 is the year of the Monkey. This makes it a perfect time to rank the top 5 best monkeys. There are basically two types of monkeys, and they are being referred to as the Old World and the New World monkeys. The Old World monkeys are those that can be found in Africa and Asia, while the New World monkeys are the ones whose habitats are in Central and South America.
The Emperor Tamarin is known to grow long and white drooping mustaches. Even the females have mustaches that make it difficult to differentiate them from the males. Its name is due to the fact that it looks like Wilhelm II, a German emperor. The species can be found in Bolivia, Peru and the Amazon forests in Brazil. Their bodies can grow up to 10.5 inches with their tail growing up to 15 inches. The adults can weigh about 10 to 14 ounces. In terms of coat color, they either sport a dark grey or black overalls plus yellow on the back with brown-red coat on the chest to the tail.
Howler Monkey is considered to be the loudest animal as its name suggests. To achieve their howl feats, they have large vocal chords and pocket of air in their hyoid bone that enables them to howl and be heard 3 miles away. They are usually found in northern Argentina, eastern Bolivia, southern Brazil and Paraguay. They are one of the largest New World Monkeys and one of the rare breeds that build nests. Their diet includes flowers, fruits, nuts and canopy leaves but not too much since some of these plants contain toxins that may prove to be poisonous if consumed in large amounts.
Rhesus Monkey is another best known species among the Old World monkeys and is probably the one most abused by man. Rhesus monkeys have been used in various experiments and studies in the past. In 1948, a Rhesus monkey called Albert was sent off into space where the creature died due to suffocation. In 1950, psychologist Harry Harlow used a group of Rhesus monkeys to experiment on social isolation that resulted to the monkeys going insane. Now, these monkeys are still being used as test subjects for painful and deadly medical research. In some parts of the world, they are being poached for their meat to be used for exotic food.
Capuchin Monkeys resemble the Catholic friars where they got the name. In the past, these monkeys were used as jockeys in greyhound races or assistants to musicians who use organ grinders. Even today, they are still being utilized to assist and serve the disabled. They are considered to be the most intelligent among the New World monkeys. Recent studies show that they are capable of using tools and plan among themselves. M. Keith Chen taught a group of capuchin the concept of money and the monkeys eventually traded coins for food. They even reacted to gambling and overpricing the same manner most investors would.
The Mandrill is known for its distinct blue and red ridged face as well as its enormous fangs. It weighs about 80 lbs and measures 3 feet when standing, making it the largest monkey species. They can be found in the rainforests of Cameroon, Congo, Equatorial, Gabon and Guinea. Baring their teeth is usually considered a friendly gesture, but these creatures are known to be reclusive. They can be seen mostly on the ground where they hunt for fruits, insects, lizards and nuts. They have what appears to be pouches inside their cheeks that they use to store food.
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