Observing Monkeys
Many kinds of monkeys
spend a great deal of their lives in trees. Because they are in the trees
so much, they need adaptations that enable them to move through the trees
easily. These adaptations include:
-
hands and feet designed for grasping
-
tails used for balancing and grasping
-
forward-facing eyes to help judge distances
correctly
1. Choose one of the monkeys in the exhibit
and observe it closely. Observe the monkey's hand. A grasping hand enables
the monkey to climb trees, groom its fur, and reach for food. What special
finger on the monkey's hand enables it to pick up things? Draw an arrow
to this important finger.
2. Observe one monkey for 5 minutes.
Especially watch the monkey's hands. Keep score how many times it does
each activity below.
feeding
grooming
scratching
climbing
_________
________
________
_________
3. When the monkey moves around the
exhibit does it:
-
use its arms and legs?
-
use its legs only?
-
use its arms only?
4. Monkeys have eyes that are positioned
close to each other on the front of the face. This helps them to judge
distances between branches when they jump through the trees. Draw a picture
of the face of the monkey you are observing, making sure the eyes are located
in the correct place.
This activity was adapted from the Zoo Information
Pack produced by the Bronx Zoo Education Department.
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