Here's a breakdown:
Monkeys:
* Fruit: Most monkeys are frugivores, meaning fruit is their primary food source. They eat a wide variety of fruits, including bananas, mangoes, berries, and figs.
* Leaves: Some monkeys eat leaves, especially in times of scarcity.
* Seeds: Monkeys often eat seeds, especially from the fruits they eat.
* Insects: Many monkeys supplement their diet with insects, especially caterpillars, beetles, and termites.
* Small Animals: Some monkey species, like the capuchin monkey, are known to hunt and eat small animals like lizards, birds, and rodents.
Apes:
* Fruit: Apes, like monkeys, rely heavily on fruit.
* Leaves: Gorillas and orangutans consume large quantities of leaves, often supplementing their diet with fruit.
* Shoots and Buds: Apes often consume young shoots and buds, which are rich in nutrients.
* Bark: Some apes consume bark, especially during times of food scarcity.
* Insects: Chimpanzees are known to hunt for and eat insects, especially termites.
* Meat: Chimpanzees are the only ape species known to regularly hunt and eat meat, including small mammals and occasionally larger prey.
Factors influencing diet:
* Habitat: The availability of food sources varies greatly depending on the environment.
* Season: Some foods are only available during specific seasons.
* Competition: Monkeys and apes often compete with other animals for food.
* Individual preferences: Even within a species, individual monkeys and apes can have different food preferences.
In summary, monkeys and apes are primarily herbivores or omnivores, with their diets consisting of fruits, leaves, seeds, insects, and sometimes meat. The exact composition of their diets varies widely depending on their species, habitat, and the availability of food.