The Americas are home to a fascinating group of primates known as New World monkeys. These incredible creatures have evolved separately from their Old World cousins for millions of years, developing unique features and behaviors. From tiny fingernail-sized tamarins to howler monkeys that can be heard for miles, New World primates come in all shapes and sizes. They inhabit habitats from the Amazon rainforest to the cloud forests of the Andes. Join us as we explore 15 of these remarkable animals that call the Americas home.
Pygmy Marmoset
The pygmy marmoset is the smallest monkey in the world, weighing just 4-5 ounces. These tiny primates are found in the Amazon Basin, where they use their sharp claws to cling to tree trunks. Pygmy marmosets have a unique diet, feeding primarily on tree sap which they extract by gnawing holes in bark. They have specialized incisors and a gut adapted to digest complex carbohydrates, allowing them to thrive on their sap-heavy diet.
Howler Monkey
Howler monkeys are famous for their incredibly loud calls, which can be heard up to 3 miles away. These large primates are found throughout Central and South America. They have a specialized throat structure that allows them to produce their distinctive howls, which they use to communicate with other groups and mark their territory. Howler monkeys are also known for their prehensile tails, which they use as a “fifth limb” for grasping branches and maintaining balance.
Spider Monkey
Spider monkeys are known for their long, slender limbs and prehensile tails. These agile primates are found in tropical forests from southern Mexico to Brazil. Their tails are so strong and dexterous that they can support the monkey’s entire body weight, allowing them to hang from branches while using all four limbs to gather food. Spider monkeys have a unique way of moving through the trees called brachiation, swinging from branch to branch using their arms.
Squirrel Monkey
Squirrel monkeys are small, active primates with distinctive black and white faces. They’re found in the tropical forests of Central and South America. These social animals live in large groups of up to 500 individuals, and spend most of their day foraging for insects and fruits. Squirrel monkeys have the largest brain-to-body mass ratio of all primates, including humans, suggesting high intelligence.
Golden Lion Tamarin
The golden lion tamarin is a small monkey with a striking orange mane. Native to the Atlantic coastal forests of Brazil, these primates are critically endangered due to habitat loss. Golden lion tamarins are cooperative breeders, with the whole family group helping to raise the young. They have long, slender fingers which they use to probe crevices for insects and small vertebrates, a feeding technique known as micromanipulation.
Capuchin Monkey
Capuchin monkeys are known for their intelligence and problem-solving abilities. These medium-sized primates are found throughout Central and South America. Capuchins have been observed using tools in the wild, such as stones to crack open nuts and sticks to fish for termites. They’re also known for their complex social behaviors, including facial expressions and vocalizations that closely resemble human communication.
Night Monkey
Also known as owl monkeys, night monkeys are the only nocturnal monkeys in the New World. They have large eyes adapted for night vision and are found in tropical and subtropical forests from Panama to Argentina. Night monkeys are monogamous, forming strong pair bonds that last for years. Their nocturnal lifestyle is thought to be an adaptation to avoid competition with diurnal monkeys and to exploit a different set of food resources.
Uakari
The bald uakari is easily recognized by its bright red face and bald head. These unusual-looking monkeys are found in the Amazon Basin. Their red faces are thought to be an indicator of health, with paler individuals often being infected with malaria. Uakaris have specialized teeth for cracking open hard fruits and nuts, allowing them to access food sources that other monkeys can’t eat.
Woolly Monkey
Woolly monkeys are large, sturdy primates with thick, woolly fur. They inhabit the rainforests of the western Amazon Basin and the Andes mountains. These monkeys have a varied diet, including fruits, leaves, and insects, and play a crucial role in seed dispersal in their forest habitats. Woolly monkeys are known for their strong social bonds and have been observed adopting orphaned infants within their groups.
Titi Monkey
Titi monkeys are small primates known for their monogamous pair bonds. Found in South America, these monkeys often intertwine their tails when sitting side by side. Titis have a complex vocal repertoire and use different calls to communicate various messages to their group. They’re also one of the few monkeys that regularly sleep in the same position every night, with their tails entwined.
Saki Monkey
Saki monkeys are medium-sized primates with distinctive shaggy coats. They’re found in the tropical forests of South America. Sakis have specialized teeth that allow them to crack open hard nuts and seeds that other monkeys can’t eat. These monkeys are known for their impressive leaping abilities, able to jump distances of up to 30 feet between trees.
Emperor Tamarin
The emperor tamarin is famous for its long, white mustache that resembles that of the German emperor Wilhelm II. These small monkeys are found in the southwest Amazon Basin. Emperor tamarins live in small family groups and are known for their acrobatic abilities as they move through the forest canopy. They have a unique “hitchhiking” behavior where infants ride on the backs of adult males, which is rare among primates.
Muriqui
The muriqui, also known as the woolly spider monkey, is the largest New World monkey. Endemic to Brazil’s Atlantic Forest, these primates are known for their peaceful social structure. Unlike many primates, muriquis show little aggression within their groups and often hug and embrace each other. They have an unusually flexible social system, with individuals freely moving between different groups without conflict.
White-Faced Saki
The white-faced saki is known for its distinctive appearance, with males having white faces surrounded by black fur. These monkeys are found in northern South America. White-faced sakis are excellent jumpers, able to leap over 30 feet horizontally through the forest canopy. They have a unique locomotion style called “leaping and clinging,” where they make powerful jumps between vertical trunks rather than swinging through branches.
Cotton-Top Tamarin
The cotton-top tamarin is a small monkey with a distinctive crest of long white hair on its head. Native to Colombia, these primates are critically endangered due to habitat loss. Cotton-top tamarins are known for their complex vocalizations, which include bird-like whistles and chirps. They have a remarkable ability to learn and remember the locations of food sources, returning to fruit trees at precisely the right time when the fruits are ripe.
