334 Types of Monkeys | Old-World Monkeys & New-World Monkeys

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Types of Monkeys: Many things come to mind when you think monkeys. They are often considered to be cute and very intelligent animals. Many species have their characteristics regarding location, size, color, and even abilities.

Monkeys are very vocal animals, which is how they communicate. They emit different tones to protect themselves from danger, call a mate, and communicate with their young.

Monkeys consist of many species throughout the world. On this page, the BioExplorer team explores all types of monkeys in the mammalian world.

Table of Contents

Different Types of Monkeys
Classification of Primates
Monkeys vs. Monkies
First Grouping of Primates
Modern Grouping of Primates
Frequently Asked Questions
Monkey Data Analysis
Types of Monkeys By Alphabets
Types of Monkeys By Diet
Types of Monkeys By Breeds
Types of Monkeys By Colors
Types of Monkeys By Habitats
Types of Monkeys By Countries

Gorillas are NOT monkeys!

Fun Facts It’s crucial to note that while all monkeys are primates, not all primates are monkeys. Prosimians (including lemurs, lorises, and tarsiers) and apes (both great and lesser) are distinct groups within the primate order and are not classified as monkeys. This common misconception often leads to confusion, but understanding these distinctions is key to appreciating the diversity of the primate family tree.

Classification of Primates

Here are 4 major types of primate and their characteristics:

Prosimians
The earliest primates that roamed the earth about 25 million years before monkeys evolved were Prosimians, meaning “pre-monkeys” or “proto-primates”.
- These prosimian species live today, including lemurs, lorises, tarsiers, aye-aye, and bush babies. The prosimians were classified into order Primates mainly because their hands with flexible fingers and opposable thumbs made it possible to fetch things up.
- Most prosimians rely heavily on a sense of smell for communication and finding food. With the tarsier, eyesight has become more critical as it can swivel its head 180 degrees in each direction. On the other hand, the apes and monkeys rely primarily on their sight.
Old-World Monkeys
Old World Monkeys are a mixed group of primates with varied body sizes (medium to large-sized), habitats, diets, social behaviors, and anatomical differences.
- All Old-World monkeys are classified under two families: Cercopithecinae and Colobinae.
- Unique characteristics-wise, Old-World monkeys have downward-pointing nostrils, tend to stay mainly on the ground than trees (non-arboreal), and have a simple digestive system with cheek pouches for plant matters. Also, these primates have a tail which makes them different from apes.
- The Old-World monkeys hail from various countries in South and East Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, except for Madagascar.
Types of Old-World Monkeys
New-World Monkeys
New World monkeys are a varied group of small to medium-sized arboreal (i.e., living on trees) primates.
- These primates are restricted to the tropical forests of Southern Mexico and Central and Latin America.
- Taxonomically, New World monkeys are classified into two prominent families Cebidae and Callitricidae.
- Exclusive attributes-wise, these kinds of monkeys are primarily herbivores, twin births, and no-cheek-pouches unlike Old-World counterparts, and some have a prehensile tail (Spider monkeys).
Types of New-World Monkeys
Apes
Apes are another clade of old-world monkeys collectively called Hominoidea, native to Africa and Southeast Asian countries.
- Apes do not have tails (except L’Hoest monkey – a great ape) due to the mutation of the TXBT^[4] gene cell.
- Also, apes cannot perform brachiation (arm swinging in the arboreal movements on tree tops, unlike the other three kinds listed above).
- There are two main branches of apes: gibbons (“lesser apes”) and hominids (“great apes”). Orangutans, gorillas, chimpanzees, and bonobos are examples of greater apes, whereas the lesser apes contain all types of gibbons, including Lar gibbon, Agile gibbon, Silvery gibbon, and more.
Hominoids are swift tree climbers except for gorillas and humans. Apes feed on various plants such as fruits, leaves, stalks, seeds, roots, and small animals.

Monkeys vs. Monkies

Let’s get one of the fundamental confusion out of the way first. Is it monkeys or monkies?

When a noun word ends with “y”, there is always confusion as to whether the plural form ends with “ies” or “ys”.

Many English dictionary sources say the grammar rule is simple. When a noun ends with a vowel followed by y, the plural form gets an “s”; otherwise, it would end with “ies”.

For instance, the plural form of “Dictionary” is “Dictionaries”.

Based on that principle, the plural form of monkey is indeed monkeys.

First Grouping of Primates

An English biologist, St. George Jackson Mivart first published the classification of primates in his book ‘Man and Apes’ in 1873^[1]. His categorization of monkeys was based purely on anatomical differences, habits, and geographical distribution. According to this book, the early classification of order Primates contained two sub-groups, namely:

Group-1: Man, and all the apes, which were first called Anthropoidea.
Group-2: All Lemurs and the animals most like them were called Lemuroidea; the creatures contained in it when spoken of being generally also termed “Half-apes” or “Lemuroids“.

Modern Grouping of Primates

After so many debates and further data collection and analyses and discoveries of new monkey species over a century, another British-born biological anthropologist, Robert D. Martin, currently a curator at Chicago Natural Museum, has published an excellent book called “Primate Origins and Evolution: A Phylogenetic Reconstruction” in 1994^[2]. This research attempted to classify living primates into 6 different sub-groups based on geographical importance.

#	Primate Groupings	Geographical Region	Collectively Called
1	Lemurs	Madagascar
2	Lorises and bushbabies	Africa and Asia	Prosimians
3	Tarsiers	Southeast Asia
4	Marmosets, Tamarins, Capuchins, Squirrel monkeys, Owl monkeys, Titis, Sakis, and Howlers (Ceboidea)	South and Latin America	New World Monkeys
5	Talapoins, Guenons, Baboons, Colobus, Macaques, Vervets, Geladas, Mangabeys, Langurs, Mandrills, Surili, Patas, Proboscis Monkeys (Cercopithecoids meaning “elongated apes“)	Africa and Asia	Old World Monkeys
6	Apes and humans (Hominoids)	Africa and Asia	Apes

This primate grouping is based on grade or level of organization, and in no way does it implies any superiority or inferiority between them.

According to the fossil study in Tanzania by paleontologists in 2013^[3], it became evident that the old-world monkeys (baboons, macaques) and apes (humans & chimpanzees) were already separated 25 million years ago!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common monkey?

The Rhesus macaque is one of the most common monkeys, especially in Asia. Found in diverse habitats, from grasslands to urban areas, they have a wide distribution. Another prevalent species is the Vervet monkey, native to Africa and known for its adaptability to various environments.

What is the most friendliest monkey?

The capuchin monkey is often considered the friendliest among monkey species. Renowned for its sociable behavior, intelligence, and playful nature, it frequently interacts positively with humans, making it a popular choice in the pet trade and entertainment industries. However, like all primates, they have complex needs and can be challenging to care for.

What is a monkey that starts with G?

A monkey that starts with “G” is the “Golden lion tamarin“. It’s a small New World monkey known for its bright reddish-orange fur and mane, resembling a lion’s. They are native to the Atlantic coastal forests of Brazil.

Monkeys Starting with G

Explore all monkeys from the world of primates that start with the letter G, including Gray-Shanked Douc Langur, Golden-faced Saki, Geoffroy’s Saddleback Tamarin, Germain’s Langur, and more.

What are the two main types of monkeys?

The two types of monkeys are:

Old World Monkeys: Native to Africa and Asia, they include species like baboons, macaques, and colobus monkeys.

New World Monkeys: Found in Central and South America, they include capuchins, howler monkeys, and tamarins.

Old World Monkeys Vs. New World Monkeys

Old-world and New-world monkeys are two types of monkeys within Primates. Explore all differences between them from all aspects here.

How many types of monkeys are there in the world?

As of 2023, there are over 330 different species of monkeys in the world, classified into two main groups: Old World Monkeys and New World Monkeys.

Which is the smallest monkey?

The smallest monkey is the pygmy marmoset (Cebuella pygmaea). It weighs around 100 grams (3.5 ounces) and measures about 4.6 to 6.2 inches (11.7 to 15.8 cm) in length, excluding its tail. Native to the rainforests of the western Amazon Basin in South America, pygmy marmosets are known for their tiny size and distinctive vocalizations.

Monkey Data Analysis

The BioExplorer team has explored the statistics around all 334 types of monkeys, including Old-World and New-world, and come up with some interesting data analysis and charts as a quick reference guide:

Distrbution of Old-World and New-World Monkeys:

Old-World vs New-Monkey Distribution Chart

Old-World Monkey Distribution By Species:

New-World Monkey Distribution By Species:

Monkeys Distribution By Continents:

Monkeys Distribution By Families:

Monkeys Distribution By IUCN Status:

Monkeys Distribution By Diet:

Monkeys Taxonomy Classification By Century:

Monkeys Taxonomy Classification By Year:

Types of Monkeys By Alphabets

Monkey Names Starting with B
Monkey Names Starting with D
Monkey Names Starting with F
Monkey Names Starting with H
Monkey Names Starting with J
Monkey Names Starting with L
Monkey Names Starting with N
Monkey Names Starting with P
Monkey Names Starting with S
Monkey Names Starting with U
Monkey Names Starting with W
Monkey Names Starting with Z

Types of Monkeys By Diet

What Do Monkeys Eat?

Monkeys are divided into two groups; the Old World and New World monkeys. Explore what do monkeys eat, monkeys diet by types and what eats monkeys here.

Carnivorous Monkeys

Carnivorous monkeys strictly dine on animal matters, including birds, insects, other monkey species, and small mammals. Explore all carnivore monkeys here.

Frugivorous Monkeys

Frugivore monkeys thrive mostly on raw fruits or succulent fruit-like produce of plants such as roots, shoots, nuts, and seeds. About 7 monkey species and 1 ape within the primate order consume fruit as their primary diet. Frugivores are highly reliant on the abundance and nutritional composition of fruits.

Herbivorous Monkeys

Herbivorous monkeys dine solely on plant matters, including leaves, fruits, stems, nuts, and flowers. Here is the full listing of all herbivore Old-world and New-world monkeys (133 kinds of monkeys), including Bolivian Red Howler, Atlantic Titi, Javan Surili, Mount Kilimanjaro Guereza, and more.

Omnivorous Monkeys

Omnivore monkeys have the ability to feed and survive on plant and animal matter. These monkeys obtain energy and nutrients by extracting carbohydrates, protein, fat, and fiber from these organic matters. These monkeys are the largest number of species (216 monkey types) by population within the omnivorous diet category.

Types of Monkeys By Breeds

Baboons

Baboons are another breed of Old-world monkeys classified under the genus Papio. There are 6 types of baboons. Explore all about baboons here.

Colobus Monkeys

Colobus monkeys are Old world monkeys of the genus Colobus endemic to Africa. Several of the Colobus monkey species are Red Colobus monkeys.

Langurs

Langurs are Old-world monkeys classified under the Colobinae family along with other leaf-eating monkeys, including Colobus and proboscis monkeys. Explore langur characteristics and all types of langur species here.

Types of Lemurs

Lemurs, Madagascar's charismatic primates, are a window into evolutionary wonder. Found only on this island, they're a diverse bunch, ranging from the tiny mouse lemur to the large indri. Explore all types of lemurs here.

Macaques

Macaques are old-world monkeys hailing from the Asian continent, with a few from Africa. Currently, 23 species of living macaques are classified under the genus Macaca in the family Cercopithecinae, and 5 extinct macaques.

Marmoset Monkeys

From the lush Amazon rainforests to the arid caatinga scrubs of northeastern Brazil, miniature marmoset monkeys swing through diverse New World landscapes. Explore all 24 species of marmoset monkeys here.

Spider Monkeys

Spider monkeys comprise 7 New World primate species adept at brachiating through Central and South American rainforest canopies, endangered due to habitat destruction. Their spindly prehensile tails, flexible shoulder joints, hook-like fingers and fusion-fission social groups represent unique adaptations for foraging canopy fruits.

Types of Monkeys By Colors

Albino Monkeys

Albino monkeys, also known as monkeys with albinism, lack pigmentation in their skin, hair, and eyes. Discover more about these unique creatures and their genetic condition.

Black Monkeys

Explore the intriguing world of black monkeys in our comprehensive guide. Discover their species, unique traits, habitats, and survival tactics.

Brown Monkeys

Many brown-colored monkeys are classified as critically endangered by the IUCN. Most of the brown monkeys hail from South America. Brown Capuchin, Brown Greater Galago, Brown Howler, Brown Lemur, brown mouse Lemur, Brown Titi, Brown-backed Bearded Saki, and Brown-mantled Tamarin are a few examples of different types of brown monkeys.

Gray Monkeys

Gray-colored monkeys are one of the commonly found monkeys in primates. Explore all types of gray monkeys here.

Orange Monkeys

Some monkey species are born with bright orange fur; the coat color would gradually turns black as they age, but some stay orange throughout life. Explore all types of orange-colored monkeys here.

White Monkeys

Here are the types of white monkeys from both Old-world and New-world types. Some of these monkeys typically have other fur color coats, such as black or orange, to make them appear very colorful.

Green Monkeys

Green Monkeys are available in different fur/skin colors. Explore all types of green monkeys, including Hamlyn’s Monkey, Olive Baboon, Malbrouck, and more.

Red Monkeys

Red monkeys include over 50 species of primates from Asia, Africa and the Americas that exhibit signature red coloration on their fur, skin or body parts adapted for forest camouflage and heat regulation while also communicating social moods.

Yellow Monkeys

Yellow Monkeys: Monkeys exhibit a dazzling array of fur colors and patterns, but a select group stands out for their unique yellowish hues blending into tropical forest backdrops. Yellow monkeys include both New World primates like spider monkeys and capuchins and Old World species such as macaques, langurs and gibbons.

Types of Monkeys By Habitats

Types of Rainforest Monkeys

Explore types of rainforest monkeys that are found in different rainforest regions of the world. Rainforests are biomes that have a rich flora and fauna. Animal species diversity is highest in the rainforests than anywhere else on earth.

Types of Monkeys By Countries

Angolan Monkeys

Angola is home to 13 species of Old World monkeys that make up 6 genera; however, none of these species are endemic to the country. One of the most popular species is the red-tailed monkey. Explore all Angola monkeys here.

Argentinian Monkeys

Five different species spanning 3 genera of New World monkeys can be found in Argentina, though none of them are endemic to the country. These species are generally found in forested regions, mainly in provinces like Santa Fe, Chaco, and Formosa.

Indian Monkeys

India has many cultural and religious ties with monkeys as a Hindu-dominant country. For instance, the Hanuman langur, one of India's most widespread monkey species, was named after Hanuman, a powerful part-monkey deity in Hinduism

Brazilian Monkeys

Brazil is home to 131 species of Old World and New World monkeys, with 83 being endemic to the country. Some common examples of these species that only reside in Brazil include the red-handed howler monkey (Alouatta belzebul), the buffy-headed marmoset (Callithrix flaviceps), and the crested capuchin (Sapajus robustus).

Democratic Republic of the Congo Monkeys

Democratic Republic of the Congo is also home to 35 Old World monkeys, with 18 endemic species. Some examples of these endemic species include the golden-bellied mangabey (Cercocebus chrysogaster), the wolf’s monkey (Cercopithecus wolfi), and the Ulindi river red colobus (Piliocolobus lulindicus).

Cameroon Monkeys

The nation houses 20 different species of Old World monkeys, though none of them are endemic to the country. Main monkey species that can be found in Cameroon include the olive baboon (Papio anubis), the agile mangabey (Cercocebus agilis), and the red-eared monkey (Cercopithecus erythrotis).

Borneo Monkeys & Apes

Borneo Monkeys: Borneo is the third-largest island in the world after Greenland and New Guinea. Borneo island hosts many types of monkeys & apes.

Malaysian Monkeys

Malaysia is home to various monkeys, though most are considered endangered. Some examples of these species are the stump-tailed macaque, the proboscis monkey, and the white-thighed surili.

Thailand Monkeys & Apes

Thailand is home to 13 species of monkeys, though none of them are endemic to the country; quite a few can be found across Southern Asia. Other examples of common monkey species in Thailand include the Indochinese silvered langur, the northern pig-tailed macaque, and the rhesus Monkey.

Panamian Monkeys

Panama is home to 8 species of New World monkeys, which comprise 6 genera. Examples of these species include the Panamanian night monkey (Aotus zonalis), the brown-headed spider monkey (Ateles fusciceps), and the mantled howler monkey (Alouatta palliata).

Indonesian Monkeys & Apes

Indonesia is home to 12% of all known mammal species, many of which are endemic to the country. Indonesia is also widely known to house various types of monkeys, including macaques, surilis, and langurs.

Peruvian Monkeys

Peru is home to 52 species of New-World monkeys; 13 of the species are endemic to the nation. Explore all monkeys of Peru here.

Bolivian Monkeys

Bolivia is a South American landlocked country, known as the most isolated country on the continent. The nation is also home to 25 species of New World monkeys, though just two are endemic to it: the Beni titi monkey (Plecturocebus modestus) and the Ollala Brothers’ titi (Plecturocebus olallae).

Ecuadorian Monkeys

Ecuador is home to 21 species of New-World monkeys, though none are endemic to the country. Some examples of these monkey species include the red titi monkey (Plecturocebus discolor), the Colombian white-throated capuchin (Cebus capucinus), and the saddleback tamarin (Leontocebus fuscicollis). Explore all monkeys of Ecuador.

Mexico Monkeys

Explore the unique world of Mexico's endemic primates, the Mexican Spider Monkey and the Mexican Howler Monkey. Learn about their habitats, behaviors, cultural significance, and conservation efforts to protect these endangered species.

Costa Rica Monkeys: A Journey into the Rich Biodiversity!

Explore the diverse world of Costa Rica's monkeys in our comprehensive guide. Learn about the four unique species, their habitats, threats, and conservation efforts. Discover tips for monkey spotting during your visit to this biodiversity hotspot.

Gibraltar Monkeys

Gibraltar’s iconic Barbary macaques have roamed here 300+ years now, delighting visitors. Explore the history of Gibraltar monkeys on the Rock, their social behavior, role as a conservation priority species with ties to Britain’s fate.

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