Cercopithecidae – Baboons & macaques

Some of the Old World monkeys have perfected the art of a New World urban living

The largest family of primates – 160 species strong!

They differ from apes in having a tail (the family name means ‘tailed apes’) and from new world monkeys in not having a prehensile tail (tails which can grasp and cling). But all in all, they’re closer to apes genetically than to new world monkeys (in a sense, they form a link between the two).

Their striking specific individuality is often displayed by their brightly colored faces or other body organs (not always, though). Most old-world monkeys are omnivorous (but more tilted towards an herbivorous diet) and often feed on anything edible. One characteristic common in all species is the closely placed nostrils, distinguishing them from other primates.