1. Old World Monkeys (Cercopithecidae):
* Found in Africa and Asia.
* Have a distinctive "cheek pouch" for storing food.
* Most have non-prehensile tails (not used for grasping).
* Includes a wide variety:
* Baboon: Large, terrestrial, known for their social complexity.
* Macaque: Widely distributed, adaptable, often found in urban areas.
* Mandrill: Colorful males, known for their distinctive facial features.
* Colobus: Have long, flowing hair, some are entirely black.
* Proboscis monkey: Found only in Borneo, have a large, bulbous nose.
2. New World Monkeys (Cebidae):
* Found in Central and South America.
* Have prehensile tails (used for grasping).
* Many have wide-set eyes and a flat nose.
* Includes:
* Howler monkey: Known for their loud calls.
* Spider monkey: Slender body and extremely long limbs.
* Capuchin monkey: Often used in research and popular as pets.
* Marmoset: Tiny, squirrel-like monkeys.
* Tamarin: Similar to marmosets, often have distinctive facial features.
3. Apes (Hominidae):
* Include gibbons, orangutans, gorillas, chimpanzees, and humans.
* Generally larger than monkeys.
* Lack tails.
* More intelligent and complex social structures.
Beyond these broad categories, there are even more detailed classifications within each group, but these are the main distinctions.
Important Note: It's important to remember that there are many diverse species within each category, and not all monkeys fit perfectly into every characteristic.