Table of Contents
43 Fun Monkey Facts for Kids (Video and Printables)
Before taking a field trip to the zoo, your littles will enjoy these monkey facts for kids.
The first section is made of up simple facts for a younger crowd. The second section is a brief dive into fun facts about different monkey species. The last is made up of random facts with a little more detail than the first section. A little something for everyone!
Easy Monkey Facts for Kids
Monkeys are a type of animal that children and adults frequently become interested in. Many young children claim monkeys as their favorite animal, and for good reason! If your kids are interested in monkeys, print out Building Sentences: Monkey Facts to keep the learning fun!
There are many different types of monkeys. They are a group of intelligent animals that are closely related to us and share some humanly features! Several types of monkeys have opposable thumbs just like us! However, one feature that is obviously non-human are their prehensile tails. These are long tails that almost work like another arm! We may not have one of those, but we do share some other common features! Let’s look at more monkey facts for kids:
- There are over 264 species of monkeys!
- Monkeys are primates.
- The howler monkey is one of the loudest animals in the world!
- Monkeys can live to be 5-50 years old.
- Monkeys have unique fingerprints — just like us!
- Groups of monkeys are known as a tribes.
- Monkeys and apes are not the same.
- Monkeys eat fruit, vegetables, and small insects.
- Most monkeys have a long tail.
- The pygmy marmoset is the smallest monkey in the world!
- The male mandrills are the largest monkeys in the world!
- Monkeys are extremely social animals!
- Most monkeys live in trees!
Easy Monkey Facts Printables
These Building Sentences: Monkey facts printables are perfect for kindergarten, first, and second graders. They come with leveled worksheets to make differentiation a breeze.
The image above is from level 1. The fact is printed at the top of the page, and the kids cut and paste the word tiles to build the sentence. Whereas, the image below is Level 2, and there is no fact printed at the top of the page, The kids have to put together a fact based on the word tiles they are given. Then, for both levels, they write the sentence and draw a picture. Again, both levels are included.
Types of Monkeys
These species are just the tip of the iceberg amongst the 264 species of monkeys that exist! This is a mix of both old world and new world monkeys. Most of these are fairly similar in size and weight —however, the pygmy marmoset is significantly smaller than the others at only five inches in length!
- Capuchin Monkeys – The capuchin monkey’s lifespan is 15-25 years when in the wild. Capuchin’s are 12-22 inches in length, and can weigh 3-9 pounds. They are omnivores, which means they eat both plants and animals. Capuchin monkeys are extremely intelligent, and make their own tools to open food. They are found in both Central and South America, and spend most of their days hunting for food!
- Howler Monkeys – This species of monkey can live from fifteen to twenty years. Howler monkeys are around 3.5 feet long in length. They can weigh anywhere from 8-22lbs, and they love to eat fruit, leaves, nuts, and flowers. Howlers are one of the loudest monkeys in the world. Their howl can travel three miles!
- Spider Monkeys – Spider monkeys can live anywhere from 25-40 years. They are around 30 inches long and weigh around 3 pounds. They love to eat bananas and are found in the tropical regions of Central and South America!
- Squirrel Monkeys – This monkey species usually lives around 15 years and is only about 23 inches long. They love to eat seeds, leaves, flowers, eggs, and small vertebrates. They are native to South and Central America.
- Owl Monkeys – These monkeys are also known as night monkeys. They are nocturnal monkeys found in South America. They have extremely large eyes with monochromatic vision. This helps them see at night!
- Patas Monkey – Patas Monkeys can live from 18 to 21 years. They range from 23 to 34 inches in length and weigh anywhere from 14-27 pounds. They are considered ground-dwelling monkeys and they love to eat fruit, insects, leaves, and bird eggs.
More Monkey Species
- Proboscis Monkey – This medium-sized primate that is found exclusively in the tree branches of the Borneo rainforests.
- Rhesus Monkey – This monkey is also called the Rhesus Macaque. It is an omnivore and enjoys many types of food. It usually lives around four years and weighs anywhere from 8 to 26 pounds.
- Colobus Monkeys – This is an African monkey. Colobus monkeys do not have thumbs. They are black and white in color, and typically weigh from 11 to 30 pounds.
- Vervet Monkeys – This species weighs anywhere from 6 to 11 pounds. They can live up to 30 years and follow the diet of an omnivore. They are a species that lives in Africa and is typically hunted by leopards and eagles.
- Woolly Monkeys – The woolly monkey lives in rainforests around the Amazon river basin. They are 16 to 24 inches in length and weigh around 15 pounds. They are extremely active during the day.
- Golden Lion Tamarin – These monkeys are an endangered species. There are less than 3,000 of them in the world today. They weigh just over a pound. They have extremely long fingers and a tail that is over 16 inches long.
- Pygmy Marmoset Monkey – Pygmy marmosets are small. They are only 5 to 6 inches in length and weigh only 3.5 ounces! They love to eat plants and the vertebrae of small lizards and birds. Their tails are longer than their bodies. They live in the Amazon Basin.
Interesting Monkey Facts
- The main difference between a monkey and an ape is their tail. Monkeys have a tail, and apes do not.
- Monkeys belong to the group of creatures called mammals and primates. Humans and apes are in the mammal group as well!
- Baby monkeys are considered adults around 4-5 years in age.
- Every monkey has a tail. This is different from chimpanzees, orangutans, and gorillas. Those animals are not monkeys and do not have a tail!
- Monkeys are split into two groups. Old World Monkeys and New World Monkeys. Old World Monkeys are native to Africa and certain parts of Asia. New World Monkeys are found in the tropical regions of Central and South America.
- Baboons are monkeys, but they typically live on the ground. This is unlike most other monkey species.
- A monkey’s life span can be anywhere between five and fifty years!
- Typically, Old World Monkeys are larger than New World Monkeys.
More Facts About Monkeys
- Major threats to primate animals are habitat loss (clearing the forests), humans hunting them for food, and illegal wildlife trade.
- Monkeys use all four of their limbs to walk and run.
- The largest monkey ever reported is the Gigantopithecus blacki ape, He stood 9.8′ tall and weighed over 1102 lbs.
- Most monkey species are active during the day. Owl monkeys, or night monkeys, are active during the night
- Squirrel monkeys have over twenty five different calls that they use to communicate with each other! Certain calls are for certain needs! One may be for eating and one may be for sleeping!
- Monkeys use facial expressions to communicate! Some use body movements!
- Female monkeys are pregnant from around five to seven months!
- Young monkeys are extremely dependent on their parents. They are not considered adults until they are 3 or 4 years old!
- Many monkey species are endangered species. This means that their species is at risk of dying out. This happens because people hunt monkeys or destroy their habitats.
Before you go, here are more facts for kids you’ll enjoy:
