How Long Do Monkeys Live? Why Do Humans Live Longer Than Apes?

Abhijeet Modi
Oct 23, 2023 By Abhijeet Modi
Originally Published on Nov 04, 2021
Group of Chimpanzees in zoo.
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Age: 3-18
Read time: 5.8 Min

Several mammals from the group Simiiformes, also known as the simians, are referred to as monkeys.

Although certain species, including such baboons, reside mostly on land, numerous monkey species live in trees. The majority of animals that we may know are most energetic during the day.

Monkeys, particularly those from the Old World, are thought to be clever. Simians and tarsiers, two members of the Haplorhini subfamily, were first found 60 million years ago.

New World monkeys and catarrhine monkeys, appeared 35 million years ago inside the simians. Apes like chimpanzees and orangutans are cladistic monkeys because they are sisters to the Cercopithecidae in the Catarrhini group of monkeys.

Monkeys of various species have different connections with humans. Some are kept as pets, while others are utilized in experiments or on space missions as model organisms.

Some monkey types and species have even been reported around field and agricultural pests in some locations, causing significant harm to commercial and subsistence field agriculture. This could have serious ramifications for the conservation of endangered types and species that may be targeted for extinction.

Farmers' impressions of harm may sometimes be higher than the actual destruction. Capuchin monkeys are trained as service animals by some organizations to help quadriplegics and others with serious spinal cord injuries or movement problems.

After reading all about the life expectancy of monkeys and chimpanzees, check out can you own a monkey in California and can monkeys swim? Here on Kidadl.

How long do monkeys live as pets?

Having a monkey as a pet is unlike caring for many other pets. A well-cared-for monkey can survive anywhere between 20-40 years, and it will require your complete care and dedication throughout its existence.

Monkeys do not develop and grow in the same way as human children do. In reality, these wild animals are perpetual infants.

In addition, a monkey requires a lot of time to please social engagement. When a pet monkey is denied of your focus and effort, it is more prone to develop not just serious behavioral issues like shouting and attacking, but also psychological disorders that can be difficult to resolve.

Keeping a confined monkey healthy can be challenging. Monkeys, for example, frequently require specialized meals that make it costly and time-consuming to provide.

Due to the bad nutrition that many owners serve their pet monkeys, diabetes is frequent. This is only one disease both you and your veterinarian must keep an eye on.

What is the life expectancy of a monkey?

Postnatal life extension in chimpanzees impacts all life stages, particularly infantile, adolescent, adulthood, and senescent. Despite humans being the order's longest-living members, the potential life expectancy of the chimpanzee has been calculated at 60 years, and orangutans periodically approach this in captivity.

A lemur's life span is approximately 15 years, while a monkey's life span is 25–30 years. Primates vary from most non-primate mammals in that adolescence occurs later in both genders until development is near completion. Monkeys have a lifespan ranging from 15 years for the black howler to 45 years for Guinea baboons.

Proboscis monkey or long-nosed monkey sitting on tree

Why humans outlive apes?

The genetic alterations that appear to enable humans to live further than any other ape could be traced back to more carnivorous diets.

These modifications may also boost brain development by making us less susceptible to aging-related disorders including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and Alzheimer's disease. Although chimpanzees and big apes are biologically close to humans, these wild animals seldom live longer than 50 years.

Even though the average human life has more than doubled in the last 200 years, owing mostly to lower infant mortality due to developments in food, habitat, and healthcare, people especially in high mortality hunter-forager cultures still have twice the average life expectancy as wild chimps.

The world's oldest stone tools used by early humans' predecessors, dating back 2.6 million years, appear to have assisted in the butchering of animal carcasses.

As our forefathers developed, these wild animals improved their ability to capture and metabolize meat, an important, high-energy diet, by expanding brain and body capacity and decreasing stomach size. Consuming red meat, especially raw flesh infested with parasites prior to heating, causes persistent inflammation over time.

In consequence, humans appear to have developed distinct variants in apolipoprotein E, a cholesterol-transporting protein that governs chronic inflammation as well as many elements of aging in the brain and vasculature.

Lifespan Of Different Species Of Monkeys

Bornean proboscis monkeys, Nasalis larvatus, are indigenous to the island part of Borneo. Proboscis monkeys have a lifespan of 15-20 years.

The mandrill's anatomy is much more ape-like, with a strong and compacted frame, which is narrower, with thicker legs that are large in the front, and nearly no tail. Mandrills can live in captivity for up to 31 years. Read more about the lifespan of other kinds of monkeys below.

The golden snub-nosed monkey has a heavy layer that is designed to keep it warm throughout the winter. The coat is a lovely, brilliant golden color.

Golden snub-nosed monkeys are believed to live between 20-25 years; in captivity, golden snub-nosed monkeys reportedly lived for longer than 23 years. The Panamanian white-faced capuchin is adaptable, surviving in a variety of tropical forests and consuming a variety of foods, including fruit, other plant material, insects, and small creatures.

It is a long-lived monkey, with a maximum documented lifespan of more than 54 years.

The lion-tailed macaque has black hair. The silver-white hair that covers the head from the cheeks to the chin is its most distinguishing feature.

Life expectancy in their environment is about 20 years, whereas it can be up to 30 years in captivity. These diminutive monkeys have grizzled-brown coats on the back, with lighter color full fur on the ventral.

Rhesus monkeys have a lifespan of up to 30 years. The coloration of Japanese macaques ranges from brown and grey to yellowish-brown. They feature a brightly colored face and a pinkish-red posterior end.

The world's oldest male Japanese macaque in the jungle was 28 years old. The eldest female recorded was 32 years old.

Caring For Your Pet Monkey

Raising and taking care of a pet monkey has significant hurdles, yet they can make great everlasting friends. Providing for a monkey demands a significant investment of time, energy, and tolerance, and it is one of the most significant commitments you will ever undertake.

Monkeys require constant attention and, unlike taking care of cats and dogs, cannot be allowed alone for long periods of time.

After your monkey has formed a link with people, it will want to accompany you everywhere you go the entire time.

If it is kept alone, it will become bored, unhappy, and angry. Monkeys are curious, clever creatures who will get into anything they can get their hands-on, and you'll need to take a moment to eliminate any items that could risk their injury or damage.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for how long do monkeys live, then why not take a look at how many hands does a monkey have, or monkey facts?

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Written by Abhijeet Modi

Master of Computer Science

Abhijeet Modi picture

Abhijeet ModiMaster of Computer Science

An experienced and innovative entrepreneur and creative writer, Abhijeet holds a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Computer Application from Birla Institute of Technology, Jaipur. He co-founded an e-commerce website while developing his skills in content writing, making him an expert in creating blog posts, website content, product descriptions, landing pages, and editing articles. Passionate about pushing his limits, Abhijeet brings both technical expertise and creative flair to his work.

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