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Cercopithecinae

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The cercopithecinae are a large group of Old World monkeys. There are about 71 different species in this group. They include well-known animals like baboons and macaques. You might also see vervet monkeys in this family. Most of these monkeys live in sub-Saharan Africa. However, macaques live in many other places. They can be found in eastern Asia and northern Africa. Some even live on Gibraltar.

These monkeys have many ways to live in different homes. Some species live high up in the trees. These arboreal monkeys are slim and delicate. They usually have very long tails to help them. Other species live on the ground. These terrestrial monkeys are stockier in their bodies. Their tails might be small or they may have no tail at all. All of these monkeys have well-developed thumbs for gripping.

Many interesting things happen in the daily lives of these monkeys. They are diurnal, which means they are active during the day. They do not spend their time sleeping through the sunlight. Instead, they live together in social groups. Most of them are omnivorous. This means they eat many different kinds of food. They eat fruits, leaves, seeds, and buds. They also eat mushrooms, insects, and spiders. Some even eat smaller vertebrates.

These monkeys have special tools to help them eat. All species have cheek pouches. These are pockets in their cheeks used to store food. They also have something called ischial callosities. These are pads on their rumps. The color of these pads can change during mating periods. A mother carries her baby for six to seven months. The young monkeys stop drinking milk after 3 to 12 months. They reach full maturity in three to five years.

Scientists group these monkeys into two main tribes. The first tribe is called Cercopithecini. This includes Allen's swamp monkey and patas monkeys. The second tribe is called Papionini. This tribe includes macaques, baboons, and mandrills. These monkeys can live in almost any weather. They live in rain forests and hot savannahs. Some live on rocky areas. Others live in snowy mountains. Some species can live for as long as 50 years.

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