Animals in the local zoo, Primates -- Part 1 Primates = monkeys + apes + lemurs. The word "lemur" comes from the Latin word “lemurs”, which means "ghosts". This name refers to many of the nocturnal (active at night) lemur species and their large eyes which make them look like ghosts. Lemurs are marvelous jumpers with ring tails. They can jump up to ten meters in one single bounce, which is about the same length as a bus. Lemurs live ONLY on the island of Madagascar and some smaller islands next to it. Monkeys = capuchins + baboons + macaques + … The Rhesus Macaque is THE monkey we are usually talking about (I mean in China). I dare say that the Monkey King is a Rhesus Macaque too. Rhesus Macaques are very social. They have a very intricate social structure and hierarchy which make the observation on them quite interesting. Another funky fact is that they can actually store a whole day’s worth in their cheeks which is really handy, because in the wild, if they’re searching for food in dangerous places, they don’t have to hang around for too long. Capuchin monkeys are native to Central and South America. These little guys are really smart, they select a few of the ripest fruits. After nipping off the tip and drinking the juice, they discard the rest of the fruit with the nut inside. When these discarded fruits are hardened and brittle (easily cracked), the capuchins gather them up. Then they will use tools to crack open nuts. What a cracking job! Isn’t it? Despite of being the largest kinds of monkey in size, baboons are actually friendly animals in most of time. They are omnivores (eat both plants and meat). Their diet includes grasses, roots, insects and other small animals, like lizards, small mammals, fishes and birds. Seems not fierce, do they? But don’t be cross with them. It is said that an angry baboon can kill a cheetah with bare hands.