Old World monkeys are primates of the family Cercopithecidae, a diverse and widespread group native to Africa and Asia. They are characterized by narrow, downward-facing nostrils (catarrhine condition), non-prehensile tails (when present), and ischial callosities that facilitate sitting. Cercopithecidae is divided into two subfamilies: Cercopithecinae (generally omnivorous, often cheek-pouched species such as macaques and baboons) and Colobinae (primarily folivorous, foregut-fermenting species such as colobus and langurs). Members exhibit complex social structures, marked sexual dimorphism in many taxa, and play important roles as model organisms in behavioral, ecological, and biomedical research.
In the rainforests of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), scientists have identified a previously unknown species of African monkey—one of the rarest discoveries in modern primatology.
Plants & Animals
Jul 15, 2026
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Scientists have described a new species of colobus monkey in the forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), report John Hart at Lukuru Wildlife Research Foundation and colleagues in PLOS One. The first hint that a ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 15, 2026
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A new tool that allows researchers to create realistic full-body animations of monkeys has provided the first evidence that nonhuman primates experience the "uncanny valley" phenomenon for body avatars, according to a study ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 14, 2026
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In cancer research, one person's junk is increasingly becoming another person's treasure. Scientists have uncovered new evidence showing how recently evolved "junk DNA" genetic elements can become integrated into ancient ...
Evolution
Jul 1, 2026
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There is evidence that nonhuman animals perceive the world, and how it unfolds in time, differently from humans and from each other. For example, certain beetles can see flickering in lights up to around 500 Hz, while in ...
Primates, including humans, are among the social animals living on Earth. Their survival relies heavily on cooperation with others, alliances, the sharing of resources and other social interactions.
Inequality is not unique to human groups and societies. Individuals with relatively little power possess a variety of behavioral strategies to counterbalance or regulate power differences. In humans, these strategies include ...
Plants & Animals
Jun 9, 2026
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A colony of macaques that gorge on snacks offered by tourists in the British territory of Gibraltar swallow soil to recover from their junk food binges, a study has found.
Plants & Animals
May 22, 2026
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Like people, nonhuman primates live in groups that vary in size and shape depending on the species. Some primate groups are small and simple; others are large and more layered. Over the decades, primatologists have observed ...
Plants & Animals
May 5, 2026
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Monkeys in a tourism hotspot have learned that swallowing dirt can quell the upset stomachs caused by overconsumption of sweet and salty snacks fed to them by holidaymakers, a new University of Cambridge-led study suggests. ...
Plants & Animals
Apr 22, 2026
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