Introduction
There are many species of monkeys living in the tropical rainforests located throughout the world. They all live where the climate is warm and moist and all have adapted to survival in these regions. Specific facts and interesting information about what types of monkeys live in tropical rainforests, how they survive, and why some are endangered are discussed in a kid-friendly format below.Click here for a great selection of Amazon.com books about rainforest monkeys.
Tropical Rainforest Monkey General Facts
- Rainforest monkey species include Howler Monkeys, Spider Monkeys, Tamarins, Marmosets, Capuchin Monkeys, and Squirrel Monkeys. The most common of which is the Tamarin.
- A new species of monkey was discovered in the Amazon Rainforest in 2007 and named Mura's Tamarin after the Mura Indian tribe.
- Most species of monkeys living in the rainforests are omnivores that feed mainly on vegetation, insects, nuts, fruits and flowers and small animals.
List of Spider Monkey Facts
- Adult male Spider Monkeys can reach two feet tall (60 cm), not including their tail.
- Unlike most other monkeys, the Spider Monkey does not have a thumb as a fifth digit, but a small stub instead. This, however, does not prevent them from swinging through the trees with ease.
- The Spider Monkey gets its name because of the fact that it looks similar to a spider when it hangs from the trees using its tail.
List of Howler Monkey Facts
- Howler Monkeys are one of the largest species of new world monkeys and one of the loudest animals in the entire rainforest.
- The sound of the Howler Monkey's yell can travel for miles. These monkeys begin and end the day with loud howls to keep track of where other monkey troops are located and to defend their territory.
- The treetops are where the most nutritious leaves can be found so that is where the Howler Monkeys spend most of their time. Leaves, fruits and flowers on the tree tops of the rainforest can be a challenge to find so it is important that the troops guard their territory so they can eat.
Amazon Squirrel Monkey Facts
- There are five different species of Squirrel Monkeys but the Common Squirrel Monkey is the one found in the Amazon.
- The Common Squirrel Monkey spends most of its time in the Canopy Layer to avoid the predators above and below them.
- Predators of the squirrel Monkey include snakes, wild cats, falcons, vultures and other birds of prey.
Tamarin Facts
- There are several species of Tamarins that inhabit the rainforest including the Emperor Tamarin with its long hairy moustache, the Golden Lion Tamarin with its distinctive patch of white hair and the Cotton-top Tamarin weighing in at about 1 pound (.45 kg).
- Like many other rainforest species, the Tamarin is considered endangered. In fact, the Cotton-top Tamarin is one of the most critically endangered primates in the world.
- Tamarins have a specialized type of nail, more like a claw, which allows them to grip onto the sides of trees with ease and also aids them in retrieving small bugs and insects.