Over time, certain prosimian populations began to exhibit more specialized adaptations for life in the trees. These adaptations included the development of opposable thumbs, binocular vision, and enhanced cognitive abilities. These changes eventually gave rise to the first true monkeys.
The earliest known monkey fossils date back around 40-50 million years ago and are found in Africa and Asia. These early monkeys were small and arboreal, meaning they spent most of their time in trees. As they continued to evolve, monkeys diversified into different species and began to spread to other parts of the world, including South America.
The most diverse group of monkeys today is found in the New World, which includes Central and South America. New World monkeys are characterized by broad nostrils, prehensile tails (in some species), and a lack of cheek pouches. Some well-known New World monkeys include capuchin monkeys, spider monkeys, and howler monkeys.
In contrast, Old World monkeys are found in Africa and Asia. They have narrow nostrils, non-prehensile tails, and cheek pouches for storing food. Old World monkeys include baboons, macaques, and colobus monkeys, among others.
Over millions of years, monkeys evolved into a variety of species with diverse physical characteristics and behaviors, adapting to different habitats and ecological niches. They played a significant role in the primate lineage, ultimately leading to the evolution of humans.