Feeding Behavior in Monkeys

Monkeys are primates that reside in a variety of regions. Some monkeys live primarily in trees and others live on the ground, such as in deserts. A monkey's feeding behavior is directly impacted by its surroundings and the culture of the other monkeys in the habitat. Studying the habits related to food can teach people about what monkeys eat, why they eat it, and how their eating behaviors are similar to or different than other primates.

  1. Food Supply

    • Monkeys eat the foods naturally available to them. Leaves, sap, insects, fruit, flowers and small vertebrae are all food options for the monkey. Vertebrae are especially important as a monkey's source of protein. Staples that are abundant, such as leaves, make the monkey meal plan more often than foods that are seasonal, but a monkey will still consume seasonal foods when they are present.

    Timing

    • Monkeys feed primarily in the morning and at night. Midday is not generally an active feeding time for monkeys, because their first feeding at the day --- breakfast --- holds them over until nighttime. At night, they feed again to sustain them through the night and until the morning. The seasons also influence feeding behaviors in monkeys. Seasons that cause a monkey's food supply to become scarce require the monkey to adjust its feeding schedule. When this occurs, monkeys might cut back their feeding time to once a day and also decrease the amount of physical activity they engage in, so as to not burn as much of their energy.

    Socialization

    • Mealtime is time for monkeys to socialize. They feed in groups, known as troops, and sometimes large troops will break down into two smaller troops in order to split up and find food. Certain monkeys will eat in close proximity to one another, while other types of monkeys, like spider monkeys, are a little friskier when it comes to their food, and don't like to sit too close when they are eating. Each monkey is responsible for finding its own food. Monkeys who show up to mealtime late may be left with only scraps to feed on.

    Position

    • Monkeys eat in a variety of positions. Some monkeys will eat sitting down on rocks or the ground, or perched in a tree. Others, such as spider monkeys, will eat in suspension. That is, they will use their tails to hang from tree branches while their arms are free to reach for the food and put it into their mouths.