Old World monkeys
Baboon-like monkeys
The large group of baboon species includes macaques, mangabeys, baboons, mandrills and djeladas. The baboon species live mainly in Africa, apart from the macaques. There are macaque species in Asia as far as Japan.
Researchers studying the origins of humans are particularly interested in baboons. Baboons are no more related to us than all the other tailed monkeys, but baboons roam the same areas as our ancestors did when the trees thinned out due to climate change. Baboons live in large groups in the savannah. They roam the savannah as omnivorous, fearsome groups of 40 to 700 animals. There are mixed groups and harem groups. There are fierce rank battles between the males, which has led to the males being twice as large as the females.
An interesting case was observed. The males of a baboon group had eaten spoiled meat in a human settlement and all died. The group now consisted only of females. Now that all the aggressive machos were suddenly gone, life in the group was much more peaceful. Gradually, new males joined the group, who accepted the peaceful rules of the females and did not engage in violent rank battles, but left the choice to the females. These males also lived a less stressful life than their constantly fighting predecessors.
Tailed monkeys (tailed old world monkeys)
The tailed apes are the sister group of the great apes. There are currently many more species of tailed monkeys than there are species of great apes. However, there were also times when the group of tailless apes was more diverse. But that was tens of millions of years ago.
The tailed apes live in Africa and Asia. They live in many vegetation and climate zones. The many species can be roughly divided into four groups:
In the tailed monkeys, the females usually remain in the group and are thus related to each other. The males have to join a new group, conquer a harem or roam around alone.
Monkeys and baboons as well as langurs and colobus monkeys.
Meercat-like monkeys
The guenons usually live on trees and eat fruit and insects. They live mainly in Africa. Groups of different guenons often roam the forests together. Because they climb at different heights, they are much more likely to recognize enemies together. Groups of guenons are mixed and typically consist of 8 – 12 guenons. However, there are also guenon species in which 70 – 100 live together. In all species, the males are larger than the females.
Langurs
Langurs live in Asia from India to Indonesia. They live in various habitats, from dense forests to steppes. Many species also live in human settlements. They are therefore easy to observe. Among the Indian langurs, for example, infanticide – infanticide after a change of harem ruler – was described for the first time.
Colobini
Colobus monkeys are specialized leaf and seed eaters that live in African forests.
Source and recommendation:
Julia Fischer; Affengesellschaft
Geissmann: Vergleichende Primatologie