Monkeys are some of the most clever animals on earth and they are famous for their loyalty. They can be found everywhere from the natural hot springs of Japan to the deserts of Arabia to the largest rainforests on earth. Most of these primates are cute and lovable but there are a whole lot of strange-looking monkeys out there that we have never seen before.
As for now, there are 600 known species of monkey and these are the absolute strangest monkey from all around the world:
5) De Brazza’s Monkey
De Brazza’s Monkey is named after the French Italian explorer, Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza. Locally, it is known as the swamp monkey for its habitat of preference. The scientific name for this monkey is Cercopithecus neglectus, which means to pay no attention to, suitable with their tendency to hide from humans and predators. These orange crested creators can be found throughout the swamp of central African nations.
The unique thing about this monkey’s appearance is the white beard-like fur under the mouth. It also caused another name “Ayatollah Monkey” due to the resemblance of Iranian leader, Ayatollah Khomeini.
4) Mandrill
Famous for its appearance in the classic Lion King as the character Rafiki, Mandrill is actually considered the biggest monkey on earth. They were once classified as baboons before they receive their own genus. Although Disney portrayed this species to be wise and mysterious, in reality, they can be very aggressive and sometimes, predatory.
These primates can make precise incisions into prey’s neck, using their 2 and a half inches long canine. They prey on rodents, porcupines, or small antelopes. For the most part, they live on fruits, vegetables, and even soil.
3) Bald Uakari
Living deep in the Amazon rainforests, the Bald Uakari is covered in hair from its tail to its neck and estimated to measure 18 inches in length on average. They live in troops of up to a hundred of them and spend most of their time looking for food. However, due to human activity, their numbers are threatened and Uakaris could easily be classified as being vulnerable to the endangered species list.
2) Tarsier
These wide-eyed creatures are famous among primates. With long fingers and big eyeballs that are larger than their brains, these tree-clinging monkeys live on the islands of Southeast Asia. They are found in forested habitats, especially forests that have the liana tree, the ones that give them vertical support when climbing trees.
Their head can swivel 180 degrees in both directions and their legs can grow twice as long as the rest of their bodies! Although they look lovable with the big rounded eyes, Tarsiers are the only entirely carnivorous primate. They prey on beetles, spiders, cockroaches, grasshoppers, and walking sticks.
1) Proboscis Monkey
These reddish-brown primates are one of the endangered species in the Asian island of Borneo. Named for their large fleshy nose, the Proboscis Monkey is majorly a vegetarian and they live on diets of fruits and leaves. In the past four decades, 50% of their population has vanished due to habitat loss. They can be found in the national parks of Borneo.
Sources: Youtube Secret Truths