They have long tails — longer than their bodies, usually — but unlike other New World monkeys (capuchins and squirrel monkeys, for example), their tails are not prehensile; that is, marmosets can't use their tails to grasp things.

What monkeys have prehensile tails?

Despite its usefulness, the prehensile tail is found only in two groups of primates: Cebus – the capuchin monkeys– and the atelines, a group that includes the howler (Alouatta spp.) and spider (Ateles spp.) monkeys. These monkeys are only found in Central and South America.

Do pygmy marmosets have prehensile tails?

The tail is not prehensile, but it helps the little monkey keep its balance as it gallops through the treetops. Both male and female pygmy marmosets are orange-brown.

Do Callitrichidae have prehensile tails?

There are about 42 species of small primates in this family. Most species are covered in soft fur, except for on their faces. ... They have long, furred, non-prehensile tails and most species have tufts of fur on their heads.

Are monkey tails prehensile?

Animals with fully prehensile tails

Many New World monkeys in the family Atelidae, which includes howler monkeys, spider monkeys and woolly monkeys, have grasping tails often with a bare tactile pad. ... One of the few Old World animals with fully prehensile tails, although they use only the tip of the tail.

Why Only Some Monkeys Have Awesome Tails

23 related questions found

Do hominoids have Y 5 molars?

Within this grouping, the two families Hylobatidae and Hominidae can be distinguished from Old World monkeys by the number of cusps on their molars; hominoids have five in the "Y-5" molar pattern, whereas Old World monkeys have only four in a bilophodont pattern.

Do primates have Rhinarium?

Primates are phylogenetically divided into those with a rhinarium, the Strepsirrhini (the prosimians: the lorises, and the lemurs); and those without a rhinarium, the Haplorhini, (the Simians: monkeys, apes, and humans). In place of the rhinarium, Haplorhini have a more mobile, continuous, dry upper lip.

Where are Cebidae found?

The Cebidae are one of the five families of New World monkeys now recognised. Extant members are the capuchin and squirrel monkeys. These species are found throughout tropical and subtropical South and Central America.

Why do Callitrichids have claws?

The surfaces of the hands and feet are long relative to the digits. Additionally, all of the digits except the hallux have sharp claws, not the flattened nails found in many other primates. Callitrichids use these claws to dig into the bark of trees.

What is the difference between marmosets and tamarins?

The lower jaw of marmosets is V-shaped, making their face pointed, while that of tamarins is rounded into a U-shape. ... Marmosets and tamarins also eat fruit, flowers, and insects. Most marmosets and tamarins have a head-and-body length of 7-12 in (17-30 cm), plus a tail about 3 in (7.5 cm) longer than that.

What is opposable thumb?

Humans have an opposable thumb, meaning that they are able to simultaneously flex, abduct and medially rotate the thumb (pollex) so as to bring its tip into opposition with the tips of any of the other digits. ... Humans share pollical opposability with most other catarrhines (old world monkeys and apes).

Is it legal to own a pygmy marmoset?

Read this guide and judge for yourselves! Based on the information here, you can determine whether or not you think a pygmy marmoset, or finger monkey, is the right pet for you! You should know, first of all, that they can be expensive in up front and ongoing costs. They are also illegal in approximately 20 US states.

What monkey does not have a tail?

Ape or Monkey? Barbary macaques are unique in that they lack a tail. For this reason we often hear them referred to as Barbary “apes,” even though they really are monkeys. (True apes include gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos, gibbons, and humans.

Can monkeys swing by their tails?

Monkeys use their tails for balance, whether they're jumping, swinging or climbing. But some New World monkeys, like the spider monkey, can do all sorts of things with their tails. They can curl their tails around tree branches and grip tightly, and even pick fruit and hold objects! It's true!

Does all monkeys have tail?

Almost all monkeys have tails; apes do not. ... There are only a handful of ape species, while there are hundreds of species of monkeys. If the primate you're trying to place is not a human, gibbon, chimpanzee, bonobo, orangutan, or gorilla (or a lemur, loris, or tarsier), then it's a monkey.

Are Capuchins New World or Old World?

New World monkeys are members of five different primate families (Callitrichidae, Cebidae, Aotidae, Pitheciidae, and Atelidae) and consist of almost exclusively arboreal (tree-dwelling) species like marmosets, tamarins, capuchins, and spider monkeys (3).

Do African monkeys have tails?

Most have tails, but they are not prehensile. Old World monkeys are native to Africa and Asia today, inhabiting numerous environments: tropical rain forests, savannas, shrublands, and mountainous terrain.

How many species of cercopithecidae are there?

The family Cercopithecidae includes 22 genera and 133 species.

Are tarsiers Strepsirhines or haplorhines?

The lower primates or strepsirhines (suborder Strepsirhini) include lemurs, bush babies, lorises; the higher primates or haplorhines (suborder Haplorhini) include the tarsiers, Old and New World monkeys, apes and humans. Strepsirhines have moist noses; haplorhines have simple, dry noses.

Are tarsiers Platyrrhines?

Haplorrhines are split into three groups: 1) the catarrhines, old world monkeys, apes, and humans; 2) the platyrrhines, new world (South American) monkeys, and 3) tarsiers. Apes are found in Africa and South East Asia, and tarsiers are found only in South East Asia.

What species have rhinarium?

Examples of mammals that have rhinarium include streptorrhines (i.e. lemurs, lorises, pottos, and galagos), cats, dogs, elephants, and walruses.

Do gibbons knuckle walk?

Gibbons have really long arms that drag around on the ground. They don't use their knuckles for walking. But their long arms come in really useful when they swing around the forest. ... “They have these long arms that still help them move around in trees, but now they're spending more time on the ground.”

Is an orangutan a monkey?

Orangutans are great apes, as opposed to monkeys, and are closely related to humans, having 97% of DNA in common. Orangutans are extremely patient and intelligent mammals.

Do gorillas have Bilophodont molars?

The Differences between Cercopithecoids and Hominoids

Cercopithecoids' molars are bilophodont (two cusps) but Hominoids' have several cusps. ... Compare this to hominoids like the gorillas, who are pretty wide in the chest.