Monkeys primarily live in tropical and subtropical regions across three main continents: Africa, Asia, and Central and South America. Most species inhabit tropical rainforests, where they live in trees, but some also live in savannas, grasslands, rocky areas, and even snowy mountains. Key habitats and regions where monkeys live:
- Tropical rainforests: The majority of monkeys live in the dense, warm, and wet tropical rainforests of Africa, Asia, Central America, and South America
- Savannas and grasslands: Some monkeys, such as baboons, live mostly on the ground in African savannas and grasslands
- Mountainous and cold regions: Certain species like the Japanese macaque live in snowy mountainous areas of Japan, adapting to cold climates by bathing in hot springs
- Dry and arid regions: Some monkeys inhabit drier areas, such as parts of northern and southern Africa
Distribution by continent:
- Africa: Home to many Old World monkeys including baboons, colobus monkeys, mandrills, and guenons. These monkeys are found mainly in tropical and equatorial zones but also in semi-arid and rocky regions
- Asia: Hosts Old World monkeys like macaques, proboscis monkeys, and snub-nosed monkeys. They live in tropical forests, mountains, and near human settlements in southern Asia, China, and Japan
- Central and South America: Home to New World monkeys such as capuchins, howler monkeys, spider monkeys, and marmosets. These monkeys are mostly arboreal and live in tropical rainforests from southern Mexico through Central and South America
Monkeys are absent from Australia and Antarctica but have adapted to a wide range of environments within their native continents. While most monkeys are arboreal (tree-dwelling), some species like baboons are terrestrial (ground- dwelling)
. In summary, monkeys live mainly in tropical rainforests but can also be found in savannas, mountains, and dry regions across Africa, Asia, and the Americas