Characteristics Of New World Monkeys

New World monkeys also known as Platyrrhini (because of their flat nose) are classified into 4 families. They are all in the superfamily Ceboidea. The Cebidae include the capuchin monkeys and squirrel monkeys. Members of this group are small monkeys that feed on fruit and insects. The Pitheciidae include titis, saki monkeys and uakaris. Most of them are in the Amazon River basin in Brazil, although a few species are found in Columbia and Bolivia. Members of this group are small to medium sized monkeys and have long fur with contrasting colors. The Atelidae include howler monkeys, spider monkeys, woolly monkeys, and woolly spider monkeys. Members of this group inhabit forests throughout Central and South America. They are medium in size and have long prehensile tails.
New World monkeys have an extensive variety of arboreal niches. The South American jungle habitat of New World monkeys has many arboreal niches and they have taken full advantage of that. They exhibit a wide variation in lifestyles and diet. Most species are herbivorous which means they feed on leaves, fruits, nuts, and gums, but also insects. The diet of New World monkeys is varied. For example, tamarins and marmosets feed on insects and gum, howlers eat leaves and other plant matter, and uakaris feed on fruit. New World monkeys differ from Old World when it comes to locomotion in that all species are tree dwelling. Capuchins are the only to hunt on the forest floor, but they really aren’t adapted to life on the ground and because of this they spend much of their time in the trees. Most New World monkey groups are quadrupedal climbers; however capuchins and squirrel monkeys scamper instead. Also, wooly monkeys and spider monkeys brachiate meaning they swing from branch to branch using their prehensile tail and arms. This leads us to the New World Monkeys