DIFFERENCES BETWEEN NEW WORLD MONKEYS AND OLD WORLD MONKEYS

Monkeys are living species of the suborder anthropoidea. They are divided into three groupings of simian primates, which are the old world monkeys and new world monkeys. These types of species are the most successful primates populating the earth than others. They are more than 246 know species which are living today. But some are not exact monkeys; they only have similarities that monkeys have. “Apes such as chimpanzee and gibbons they are sometimes called monkeys”.1 suborder anthropoidea has also divided into other super families such as Cercopithecidea which is regarded as the old world monkeys, they mostly found in the continent of Africa and Asia. While Cebidae, Aotidae, Pitheciidae, Atelidae is regarded as new world monkeys. [1]

Monkeys have differences that can separate them to each other, features that old monkeys have is different to the ones that new world monkeys. “Platyrrihini as known for the new world monkeys they have flat nose as compared to catarrhine (old monkeys)”2 3.their nostrils are separated by a wide septum, while of the catarrhine are separated by a small septum. “The molars of new world monkeys are large compared to the teeth of old monkeys which are two sharply connected cusps”.2 These kinds of features that are presented on this class of monkeys differentiate them. [2]

New world monkeys also have some feature that are total different the ones that old monkeys have, “they have long tails which is known as prehensile tails”.2 It is used as the third hand to grab things and also give balance when they climb branches of trees. While the old monkeys do not have long tails, because they are not arboreal which will require their tail as the third hand? Another difference between these two monkeys is their body; the old world monkeys are having large body size which have colours especially on the face where it has bright colourful colours. On the other side new world monkeys are having dark colours and small body with lots of fur that made them look big. [3]

Furthermore characteristics that are presented by this two super class also differentiate them to each other. “Male of new world monkey involves itself on parenting of the infant, it was suggested that most of the time the male will carry the infant on its back and return it to its mother for nursing”.2 While the old monkeys male never get involve with the caring of the infant, is only done by female monkeys. [2]

These differences are also adopted in the way they chose habitant, new world monkeys mainly live in trees. While catarrhine live in various habitats, they spend most or some of their day on the ground. These old monkeys have hairless callous pads, on their rumps which may be adaptations for long sitting or sleeping on rough branches and stone and the new world monkeys do not have that marks ,which shows that they mostly found on trees.
They only have one common thing, their diet are the same. All monkeys are herbivores they live on vegetables and fruits. Monkeys are intelligent, they behave like humans. This made them to be in the same family tree as human is, because it has been suggested by paleothropologist that we share the same ancestor as this species.

In conclusion, it is easier to differentiate the old world from the new world monkeys simply by their appearance, when you are distanced from them you can check their colours, body weight and when you are not far you can also check their facial appearance as they are different. Also their characteristics are different new world monkeys prefer to live on trees while the old monkeys occupy different habitant and they prefer to live on ground than on trees. All these monkeys irrespective of their differences they share one common character, both of them are intelligent and they behave like humans.

Reference:

1. Wikipedia contributors, Monkeys. [Internet]. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia; [cited 2006 May 12]. Available from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkeys

2. Anthropology 1, new world (America) and old world (Africa and Asia) monkey: A comparison, [internet] [cited 2006 May 11] Available form:http://www.cabrillo.edu/~crsmith/monkeycomparisons.html

3. Wikipedia contributors, Monkeys. [Internet]. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia [cited 2006 May 12] Available from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_World_monkey.

Mr Elelwani Muanalo
NISL- Ecological Informatics Student
CSIR Pretoria
Tel: +27 12 841 2133
Fax: +27 12 842 7024.
Email: emuanalo@csir.co.za
My bloger URL: http://www.emuanalo.blogspot.com