Graceful, colorful, and endlessly adaptable—Africa’s monkeys are living portraits of diversity. From the forest canopy to open savannas, nearly a hundred species thrive across the continent. Each tells a story of evolution through color, movement, and behavior. Discover how their physical traits reveal a world of adaptation and intelligence. Enjoy a closer look at how Africa’s monkeys embody the beauty, balance, and complexity of life in one of the world’s most extraordinary regions.

Baboons are large, clever, mostly ground-dwelling monkeys who live in sizeable, complex troops with intricate social lives. Frequently maligned and underappreciated. Six beautiful baboon species grace Africa’s savannas and woodlands. Learn more: neprimateconservancy.org/baboons/.

Colobus monkeys are tree-dwelling, leaf-eating monkeys native to eastern, central, and western Africa, comprising twenty-four species in three genera. Mother Nature graced them with very specific and unique physical, behavioral, and lifestyle characteristics that benefit them and their ecosystems. Learn more here: https://neprimateconservancy.org/colobus-monkeys/

Geladas, also known as “bleeding-heart monkeys” for their striking red chest patches, are large, terrestrial, baboon-like primates found only in the Ethiopian highland. With distinct physical and behavioral characteristics, such as their unique grass-eating lifestyle, these remarkable primates form complex societies governed by communication, cooperation, and subtle social bonds. In this video, find out who they are! Learn more: neprimateconservancy.org/gelada/.

Within this group of African monkeys, patterns and colors vary in striking ways. What purpose do these markings serve? This short video takes a closer look. Learn more: Guenons 

Barbary macaques are the only monkeys living in the wild in Europe—and the only macaques found outside of Asia. From North Africa’s forests to Gibraltar, they’ve adapted to surprising environments. But their future is uncertain. Habitat loss, human encroachment, and the illegal pet trade threaten wild populations. 

Two kinds of monkeys live in Asia. Macaques and Leaf Monkeys. Asia’s colobine monkeys—also called leaf monkeys—include about 55 species such as langurs, lutungs, and surilis. They are slim, long-tailed monkeys that mostly eat leaves, using their special multi-chambered stomachs to digest tough plant food. Many live high in the trees, though some, like gray langurs, also thrive on the ground and even in cities. Sadly, most species are endangered due to habitat loss and hunting.

Two kinds of monkeys live in Asia. Macaques and Leaf Monkeys. Meet the macaques. Yes, they’ll steal your lunch, your hat, and your glasses, but they’ll also barter with you to return the non-food items for choice food items. They observe humans and understand our priorities. They are incredibly intelligent! They are perhaps the most maligned monkey species. Why? Because they are clever and adaptable? What’s special about macaques? They are almost as adaptable as humans to a wide variety of climates and living conditions. They are magnificent, diverse, and gravely underappreciated. Here’s an overview of “Macaques—in a nutshell.”

Latin America is home to some of the most diverse and fascinating primates on Earth. From the misty cloud forests of the Andes to the sprawling Amazon rainforest, these monkeys live in a wide range of habitats—tropical rainforests, dry forests, mangroves, savannas, and even mountain woodlands.

Some of Latin America’s monkeys have physical adaptations that distinguish them from any other monkeys in the world. The family of monkeys referred to as Atelidae have traits that any superhero would envy. So, who are these remarkable monkeys? What are their distinguishing features? How do these adaptations function? What makes them truly exceptional? Discover the answers here…in a nutshell.

From hook-fingered spider monkeys to clawed marmosets, the hands of Latin America’s monkeys reveal extraordinary evolutionary adaptations. This video explores how their unique grips—whether built for strength, precision, or speed—help them thrive in the canopy and, in turn, shape the very forests they call home.

Did you know some monkeys use nature as their own pharmacy? From rubbing citrus and millipedes into their coats to drinking clay and eating bitter leaves, Latin America’s primates have mastered incredible self-care techniques. Watch how capuchins, titi monkeys, squirrel monkeys, and howler monkeys protect their health, repel insects, soothe digestion, and even pass these life-saving habits to the next generation.

How do Latin America’s monkeys see their world? Some see in two colors, some in three, and some only in shades of gray. From the crimson face of the bald uakari to the leaf-selecting precision of howler monkeys, discover how color vision shapes survival, cooperation, and life in the canopy.