Dec 11
9
Why Owl Monkeys Are Important
owl monkeys are important because of their differences from all other monkey species, specifically in the fact that they are the only nocturnal species of monkey. Having very small external ears and very large eyes gives them an owl-like appearance. They are interesting to study because they do not act like other monkey families and have different traits. For instance, their eyesight lacks color perception, which would be nearly useless in night travels. They have a better depth perception than other species, which is useful at night to help them find food and to move about the tree canopies of the Central and South American rainforests. They generally eat fruits but will eat insects and other items if their regular food source is scarce. They travel in small family units rather than the large groups that other monkeys establish.
Not much was known about them in their natural surroundings other than that they seem to be more active on nights when the moon is at its brightest. Research of captive animals has yielded some conflicts to theories about them such as the belief they were monogamous in nature. While they do seem to stay loosely within a family unit, the male or female parent can be replaced if an intruder is aggressive enough to remove them from their family. Males and females sexually mature at different ages so it is logical to believe that they will be shifting the family unit as the sexual activity of either mate diminishes. They generally will raise only one singleton per year, rarely producing twins. The males care for and carry the young except while it is being nursed. One theory for this behavior is that it is safer for the young to be carried by the stronger male since pregnancy, birth, and nursing weakens the female. The role reversal is so complete that it has been noted that if the male dies or is killed, the female will often not resume the role as its primary care giver. If there is not another sibling to take over, the infant may be lost. The family unit will stay together until the siblings begin to reach sexual maturity and seek a mate to begin their own family.
They are thought to be more docile and better suited as pets than some other species, but bans on the ownership of primates in many areas serves as a reminder that they are not to be chosen as pets without the proper amount of research. Owl monkeys are also used for clinical testing for malaria.
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If a person uses the term Old World Monkeys they might ask where do monkeys live. Old World Monkeys are actually large monkeys such as baboons that are more closely related to apes than the New World Monkeys. They are native to Southern Africa and Asia, and can live in different habitats such as grasslands and snowy mountains as well as rain forests, which are preferred by their New World Monkey cousins. They can live on the ground or in trees. They can live in groups or be more solitary depending on species. The ground dwelling species often have sitting pads on their behinds like the baboons. Although they can swim, they do not generally live in swamplands.
Some of the general traits that separate the Old World Monkeys from the New World Monkeys are the placement of their nostrils, closer together and curved, that they have storage pouches in their cheeks to store food, and that if they have tails at all (and some do not) they are not long and curved to help them with tree climbing, instead they often have sitting pads on their behinds.
The endangerment of monkey species is a concern to animal activists all over the world; however, some Old World Monkeys are still killed for food and sold as bush meat. Monkey brains are a delicacy in some Asian countries. On the complete other end of the spectrum some species are sacred to certain Hindu sects and are forbidden to be eaten.
Since monkeys are so similar to man, especially the Old World Monkeys, they are often used for laboratory experimentation and as subject for drug trials. The Rh factor in blood matching was discovered by studying the rhesus monkeys. If the Rh factor is present the person (or animal) is said to be Rh positive, if it is absent the result is Rh negative. It does not generally affect people except when a mother and her fetus have different factors because the fetus inherited the factor from the father. Injections can be given to equal out the effects and it is not as dangerous to mother and infant as it was in the past.
They are used in other experimentation, although it is a controversial subject especially when studies are performed on species that are on endangered or critical listings. Some scientists have suggested cloning as a method to replenish some of the dwindling species but that is also met with much controversy.
When asking where do monkeys live we should also be aware that their habitats should be saved so they can live there forever.
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Nov 11
15
Rainforest Monkeys Marmosets
Some rainforest monkeys are quite strange, and the marmosets are certainly one of the strangest. They have some beautiful markings and strange shapes and are quite appealing to people who have an eye for exotic pets. As bottle fed babies they are very precious, but as they age their demeanor changes. They become unstable, unpredictable, and sometimes dangerous even to their owners. Being an endangered species, people feel drawn to help them survive but some animals simply not suited to be pets of the average person.
Since they live in family groups headed by a dominate male and female, marmosets’ education and habits come from the family unit. If they have been taken as young to be bottle fed pets, they are often unable to care for their own young because they simply do not know how. After a few generations, instinct seems to take back over, and they can begin to care for their young without outside interference.
Marmosets have not been domesticated. They are simply removed from their parents at a very young age and bottle fed in an attempt to make pets of them. A person attempting to do this must be very devoted to them since they are unable to thermo-regulate for themselves for the first two months of life. They are constantly carried by their father, except when the mother nurses them. People who have attempted to replace this with a stuffed proxy animal are denying the young the very thing they need at a crucial time of their lives. They need the tenderness, warmth, and attention of another being, not a stuffed proxy animal. This type of behavior may be contributory to the change in demeanor of captive marmosets as they age.
Marmosets are very intelligent and should be fed a variety of foods to maintain their attention and to prevent boredom. In the wild they eat a variety of plants, fruits, and the sap and gum from trees. They prefer a box to make them feel more secure while they sleep, with stuffed animals of their approximate size to help them feel comfortable enough. Even though their habitats are being diminished, it is cruel to remove an animal that is so communal and then force it to live alone or with only one other marmoset.
The diseases of man can be passed to marmosets and simple childhood diseases such as measles and chicken pox can be deadly to the pet. By the same token, some of their diseases and parasites can be passed to humans or carried by other intermediary animals such as rats or roaches. Cleanliness and constant monitoring of their habits is the only way to keep these rainforest monkeys alive in captivity.
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Nov 11
14
If You Attempt To Own A Monkey
You may believe in your heart that you wish to attempt to own a monkey, but this may prove to be a false feeling once you being your research. An excellent reason to maintain a logical and sensible approach is because they are either illegal or have stringent licensing and permit regulations to follow in the few areas they are allowed.
When a person thinks of a monkey, the tiny monkey with the organ grinder peddling pennies from people on the street or from an old circus movie comes to mind. Another image that is provoked is the image of Tarzan and Cheetah in a true animal/human respectful and intense relationship of trust and obedience.
The honest truth is that monkeys of any size, especially larger monkeys, chimpanzees, and baboons, are outlawed is because they are unpredictable, unsafe, and can be very antisocial as they grow older. Their similar nature to humans is what draws them to many people, and yet it is the very reason they are not suitable pets in most cases.
People have a tendency to want or need a pet to be a companion for them and have a two way relationship of caring and trust. Monkeys are wild animals. Regardless of how much socialization is attempted by the prospective owner, as they grow older moneys are often more aggressive and can display human emotions of anxiety, depression, even self-mutilation.
The first and most important issue to contend with is finding out EXACTLY what the laws are on every level of government where you intend to live with the monkey. Animal activist groups work very hard to lobby for changes in legislation to make it harder for a non-professional individual to legally own a monkey, especially larger species. The best way to obtain proper information is to begin at the State level and request a written copy of the Animal Ordinance. Each level of government, state, city, county, rural, even individual subdivisions and residential areas, may have ordinances banning the existence of a monkey as a pet. Always ask for the ordinance in full without mentioning up front what type of animal you are considering. Always look for a “grandfathering” clause in case you make a purchase and the laws change, and look for rules to “grandfather” in an acceptable mate or companion, for your pet cannot emotionally handle being a lone animal. It is possible in some states and areas.
Before you attempt to own a monkey, you must be willing to follow the proper rules and regulations.
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Nov 11
13
The Natural Home Of Owl Monkeys
owl monkeys are very different from other species of monkeys. The fact that they sleep during the day and are most active at night separates them from other species of monkeys that spend their waking hours in the light of day.
Evolution in their species has made their eyesight monochromic which means they do not see color which is of no use to them. They have better depth perception than other species, which allows them to move in the trees and find fruit to eat or small insects. Though nocturnal, they are most active on nights when the moon is brightest.
Owls are New World Monkeys, which means they are present in the rainforests of Central and South America. They are different in their habits since they do not live in large groups as other New World Monkeys do. They seek a mate and once the young is born, the father is the primary care giver and the mother generally only provides care while nursing. The role of the father is so important that if the father dies, the mother generally will not take over care of the infant. This is very unlike other species that will care for infants other than their own and will sometimes even steal an infant from another mother in a group. There is only one infant produced per year with twins being very rare. They will stay with their own family unit until they are old enough to go out and seek a mate and begin their own family.
It was assumed that pairs were monogamous, but further research of captive animals show that males or females in the family unit can be replaced through aggression from an outsider to join the group. They are territorial animals and mark their boundaries by scent and by sounds to discourage others from entering their domain. Sometimes, as noted earlier, this is successful and sometimes not.
It is an established fact that monkeys do not make good pets for untrained individuals due to the changes in their demeanors as they age. It is said that owl monkeys are more docile and easier to tame as pet and are more accepting of humans than other species. Although this may be true, in North America especially primates are banned in most areas and if not totally banned are heavily restricted to avoid the spread of disease from the monkeys to humans and vice versa. Owl monkeys prove this point by being sought after for non-human study of malaria specifically.
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Nov 11
12
Where Do Monkeys Live And Why
Where do monkeys live is as interesting question, as well as where they do not. It has been noted in some research that monkeys do not generally live in the wild in areas inhabited mostly by white men. This is not totally understood, but it may have to do with the fact that monkeys are more likely found in tropical rainforests of Central and South America as well as in Africa and Asia in a temperate belt across the world.
The monkeys that are generally termed as Old World Monkeys such as those that live in Africa and Asia and are most notably lacking of the long tail used in climbing trees. The most common old world monkeys are the baboons, not only lacking the long tail but actually have sitting pads on their behinds.
The New World Monkeys are those that live in the rainforests of Central and South America and live in trees and have long tails to help them balance and move around swiftly. They do not have sitting pads on their behinds and are probably most recognized by the Capuchin monkeys that are often in zoos, circus acts, and sometimes trained to aid injured victims that are paralyzed and quadriplegics.
The Old World Monkeys and New World Monkeys have evolved independently of each other and their locations on different continents may be the reason for this. The New World Monkeys tend to be smaller and more agile, while the larger ground dwelling Old World Monkeys tend to be larger, stronger, and have more aggressive natures.
In some parts of the world especially the Old World monkeys of Africa, they are hunted for food. In some parts of India, Old World Monkeys are forbidden to be eaten and are considered sacred by some Hindu sects.
It is interesting that in areas where monkeys have evolved closely with man, that the roles and species have such a wide variety across the world. Other than not having reasonably temperate areas, it is not known why they have not ventured into the North American continent except as captives and are banned in many North American areas.
The fact that they are carriers of some diseases that can be passed to humans, as well as can be infected by diseases and parasites that are carried by roaches and rats. They are also susceptible to human diseases such as measles, and chicken pox that can be deadly for them.
To answer the questions where do monkeys live and why can be a mystery of great interest.
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Nov 11
11
Rainforest Monkeys As Pets
Varied and beautiful, rainforest monkeys are often thought of as possible pets. Before considering any monkey as a pet, serious research must be performed. Many rainforest species are endangered due to loss of habitat, even though more species seem to be discovered all the time. Some people would believe this would make “saving” them by making pets of them a logical choice; however, most animal activists believe that capturing monkeys for any reason is detrimental. They believe that it is best to preserve more of their natural habitats and leave them as they are.
Law enforcement agencies in many areas agree that it is dangerous to remove monkeys from their natural habitats and turn them into pets for average people. They are banned in many areas. In the areas where they are not totally banned, they are very heavily restricted, and it is very difficult and expensive to obtain permits that can allow ongoing inspections.
Although some species of monkeys are very clever and can be trained, generally they are unpredictable to the point of being dangerous. Just because they are cute on television or beautiful in a nature program, it does not mean they should be brought into the home of the average person. Monkeys that are on television shows and in movies are often trained for years by experienced animal handlers. The average person commonly does not have the time, patience, or skills to train a monkey to be a companion.
Monkeys have a greater intelligence than many animals, which makes them seem to be ideal to be trained. However, along with the greater intelligence, monkeys exhibit the moodiness, tendencies toward anxiety and depression, and other problems that many owners are not equipped to deal with.
One of the most famous types of rainforest monkeys is the Capuchins, a small but intelligent species of monkey most recognized as the organ grinder’s monkey with the cute suit and the small hat begging for coins at his master’s feet. They are immortalized in old movies and circus acts, but they are not as suitable for a pet as one might believe. Even with training, many monkeys will bite, scratch, throw food and waste from their enclosures, and perform embarrassing sexual acts at any given time. Often used as laboratory specimens, Capuchins are most likely happier in the rain forests searching for food.
rainforest monkeys, as well as other diminishing species of animals, should be reminders that we should control the use of their habitats rather than trying to contain them for our entertainment,
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