15 Types of Monkeys Climbing Trees All Around the World

Found in Central and South America, spider monkeys like the Geoffroy's spider monkey and black-handed spider monkey are agile climbers with long limbs and powerful prehensile tails.

These New World monkeys live in the forest canopy of tropical forests, where they forage and socialize in large groups.

Tiny but lively, squirrel monkeys include the Central American squirrel monkey and bare-eared squirrel monkey. These New World species are known for their expressive faces and vocalizations. They live in primary and secondary forests, often in large, dynamic troops.

Capuchin monkeys — including the bearded capuchin — are widely studied for their intelligence and tool use. Native to South America, they thrive in varied habitats and play a major role in primate species studies. They forage for fruits, insects and even bird eggs.

Howler monkeys are famous for their deep, resonant calls that can travel for miles. These New World monkeys have strong prehensile tails and are commonly found in South and Central America. Their calls mark territory and keep groups connected in the dense jungle.

Colobus monkeys like the black and white colobus and Tana River red colobus are Old World monkeys native to Africa. They are known for their leaf-heavy diet and lack of thumbs, which helps them swing through the treetops with ease.

Bright and beautiful, the golden lion tamarin has vivid orange fur and lives in Brazil’s Atlantic coastal forests. As a threatened species, it's a focus of global conservation. Related species include the black lion tamarin, also endemic to South America.

Golden snub-nosed monkeys and other snub-nosed monkey species are Old World monkeys found in China. Their white fur, flattened faces and social group behavior make them unique among world monkey species.

Also known as snow monkeys, Japanese macaques are famed for bathing in hot springs. These Old World monkeys have adapted to cold climates, making them the most northerly living monkey species.

Titi monkeys live in South America and are noted for their pair bonding and tail intertwining. They often inhabit gallery forests and play a crucial role in dispersing seeds and maintaining biodiversity.

Blue monkeys are found in several different African forest habitats, including tropical mountain and lowland forests, mangroves, bamboo forests and delta forests.

Their blue-gray coloring and expressive faces make them stand out. They feed on fruits, leaves and small animals, often staying in the forest understory.

This diverse group includes the Crested mona monkey, Campbell's mona monkey, Dent's mona monkey and Lowe's mona monkey. These monkeys are Old World species often found in central Africa. The greater spot-nosed monkey and Diana monkey are also part of this group.

The Blue Nile patas monkey is a ground-dwelling Old World monkey with long limbs built for ground speed. Found in open savannas and woodlands, it contrasts many arboreal monkeys with its terrestrial habits.

Native to Borneo, proboscis monkeys are known for their large, pendulous noses and swimming skills. These Old World monkeys are a unique sight in the swamp forests and riverine areas where they reside.

Also called night monkeys or three-striped night monkeys, these are the only truly nocturnal monkeys. Found in Central and South America, they have large eyes adapted for night vision and live in forested regions.

The Eastern pygmy marmoset, one of the world’s smallest primates, is found in the western Amazon Basin in South America. These tiny creatures live in family groups and dwell in the forest canopy, feeding on tree sap and insects.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.