Would it surprise you to know that other primates get tipsy, drunk, and even high? What if you found out that the percentage of nonhuman primates that choose to partake in drugs and alcohol usually mimics the numbers that we see in human societies?

Spanning several decades, research on rhesus macaques has shown us that some monkeys will readily drink alcohol whenever it is offered, and some will try it once but never again. Some primates tend to be social drinkers, while others prefer to drink alone.  And human primates aren’t the only ones that experiment with other types of drugs besides alcohol. Some Black Lemurs (Eulemur macaco) rub the secretions of toxic millipedes on their bodies, which acts as a narcotic on them, causing excessive salivation and apparent “spacing out.” Although the evolution of this behavior is hard to explain since it likely makes the lemurs more vulnerable to predation, it appears that the millipede secretions not only make the lemurs feel funny but also act as an insecticide, protecting them from biting insects and any of the diseases such pests may be carrying.

Baboons, spider monkeys, and macaques are just a few of the other types of primates that have been seen stumbling back to their sleeping sites after having one too many pieces of fermented fruit.

Take a look at this video featuring vervet monkeys with constant  access to alcoholic beverages on their home island of St. Kitts.

Human preferences for drugs such as alcohol seem to be substantially influenced by our genes, and these genetic inclinations are mirrored in other primates. However, unlike the vervet monkey societies where drunkards seem to be well respected by group members, human societies tend to denounce drug addiction and alcoholism. Or do they? Feel free to discuss!

Photo by Ryan Photographic

Northern Gray-necked Owl Monkey Profile

Age Northern Gray-necked Owl Monkeys live to be about 20 years old in the wild, with life spans reaching up to 30 years in captivity.

Body Type: Small monkeys with little difference in male and female body sizes. Adults weigh a little less than two pounds on average, with body lengths of around 13.5 inches from head to rump. At about 14 inches in length, the bushy tail is actually longer than the body.

Sex Females take a few more months to reach reproductive maturity than do males, who enter the dating scene at two years of age.

Relationship Status Northern Gray-necked Owl Monkeys are monogamous and live in family groups made up of a two parents and their young ‘uns. Mating occurs during the fall months which means that babies are born during the plentiful fruiting season.

Kiddos After a pregnancy lasting almost five months, females birth a single infant, although twins occur on very rare occasion. Babies are completely weaned by the time they are three months old, but youngsters will stay in their family groups for a few years until they find their own mates.

Political Views Male Northern Gray-necked Owl Monkeys are real “family guys,” spending the majority of their days hauling youngsters around, playing with and feeding infants, and fiercely defending their families from predators. These duties are physically demanding, and older juveniles in the family group also help take care of infants. Both males and females vigorously defend their own territories from other owl monkeys by vocalizing, chasing, and grappling with invaders.

Family Life Groups of Northern Gray-necked Owl Monkeys are small, with less than six individuals in the group at any given time. Young adults stay in their family groups until they find suitable mates.

Home Town Found in primary and secondary rain forests of South America, principally in the country of Brazil. Northern Gray-necked Owl Monkeys not currently at risk of extinction and have been used as research subjects in laboratories for studies on malaria and herpes, diseases sometimes contracted by these monkeys. However, like all primates, owl monkey populations are negatively affected by hunting pressures, deforestation, and habitat loss.

Oogivore type Primarily frugivores, when ripe fruit is available. However, Northern Owl Monkeys also routinely dine on flower nectar, leaves, insects, frogs, and eggs.

Locomotion Quadrupedal

Interests Enjoying the night-life through the help of nocturnal adaptations such as large eyes and sensitive noses and hooting like, yes…you guessed it, owls.

White-handed gibbons can be light or dark in color.

Age White-Handed Gibbons live to be about 30 years old in the wild, though captive gibbons live much longer. (A zoo-housed female recently died at age 56.)

Body Type: Long and lean with super-stretchy arms for brachiating. There are very few physical differences between male and female White-handed Gibbons. Individuals weigh somewhere between 10 and 20 pounds, with an average body length at a little less than two feet from head to rump. Tails are nonexistent, a trait shared by all apes. White-handed Gibbons can be highly variable in color, ranging from dark black to a reddish, sandy-blonde.

Sex Females generally do not begin reproducing until they are seven years old, while males mature earlier than do females, finishing up puberty at about five years of age.

Relationship Status White-Handed Gibbons are considered to be monogamous, living in family groups made up of one adult male, one adult female, and the partnership’s kiddos. Breeding and birthdays occur year-round, meaning that these joyous events aren’t restricted to a single time of the year.

Kiddos After a pregnancy lasting about seven months, females birth a single infant, although twins are sometimes born. Babies are not weaned until they are nearly two years old, but older youngsters will stay around their family group until they reach sexual maturity, upon which time they leave to find their own mates.

Political Views In terms of temperament, male and female White-Handed Gibbons tend to stay pretty low-key within their own family groups, with very low rates of aggression among family members. However, male and female partners will vigorously defend their shared territory from invaders, both through loud vocalizations and through physical interactions with neighboring groups and potential threats. Male and female pairs tend to be strongly bonded for life, and they maintain their closeness through lots of daily grooming and duetting, or synchronized singing. On occasion, due to unknown reasons, these bonds can fail, and male and female partners will split up to find new mates.

Family Life Family groups are small, with an average size of five individuals, but groups can grow up to 12, depending on the number of offspring and length of time that they remain with their parents.

Home Town Found high in the rain forest canopies in parts of Southeastern Asia, primarily on the islands of Burma, Sumatra, and the Malay Peninsula, with populations also ranging in areas of southern China, Thailand, and Laos. White-handed gibbons are currently listed by the IUCN as near threatened, due to deforestation of their habitat and individuals being killed by humans for bush meat or being captured to be sold as pets.

Oogivore type Primarily frugivores, feeding primarily on fruits such as ripe figs and liana fruit. White-Handed Gibbons also munch on leaves, insects, and flowers.

Locomotion Brachiation

Interests Mobbing predators such as large eagles, leopards, tigers, and snakes that get too close, harassing pig-tailed macaques that try to steal food, and resting comfortably upon ischial callosities during their down-time.

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