Where do Monkeys Live?
Most monkeys live in the tropical rainforests of Asia, Africa, Central and South America, or the savannas of Africa. Monkeys make homes in forests, grasslands, plains, mountains. Many arboreal monkeys spend life in trees; baboons, macaques live on ground. Tribes move to find food. Monkeys are very social.
Rainforests have abundant food and trees ideal for monkeys. Most time is in treetops, eating fruits. Some African species are baboons, colobus, mandrills, guenons, mangabeys, patas in trees, along rivers and mangroves or ground.
Forests of Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Venezuela also have howlers, saimiri and capuchins. New World monkeys live in a range of forest habitats, from Mexico to Argentina. Monkeys circle 2 miles daily in home range.
Natural Habitat of Monkeys
Most monkeys naturally live in the tropical rainforests of Asia, Africa, Central and South America, or the savannas of Africa. The two main habitat categories for monkeys are arboreal and terrestrial. Monkeys seldom spend much time in one location, so their nests are often rather simple. It’s a common fallacy that all monkeys live in trees.
The Asian and African Old World monkeys inhabit more varied habitats. Most prefer rainforests with readily available trees, food, and water. However, some live in mountains or on hot, dry savannas. Monkeys can be found in almost any environment except wetlands or swamps.
In Africa, some species are baboons, colobus, drills, geladas, guenons, mandrills, one macaque, mangabeys, and patas. Most African monkeys live in tropical and equatorial zones, though some inhabit semi-arid and rocky parts of northern and southern Africa. Many dwell in or near human settlements like cities, towns, and villages, either in trees, along rivers and mangroves, or on the ground.
The Amazon rainforest is perfect for monkeys. Due to its wet and very hot climate, Woolly monkeys there live high up in tree canopies. Rhesus macaques are the most widespread nonhuman primate species. They are mostly terrestrial and partly arboreal.
Unfortunately, human invasion has destroyed, invaded and divided many monkey forest homes. It’s caused habitat change and adaptations to extremes. Monkeys have learned to live in different locations worldwide over time. Most prefer tropical rainforests.