25 Funny Monkey Behaviors Explained

A lot of what looks hilarious in a monkey is actually a precise piece of communication. Once you know the grammar of primate behaviour, the comedy gets better rather than worse. Here are 25 funny monkey behaviours and what each one really means.

Faces and Gestures People Misread

1. The huge yawn

In baboons and macaques, a wide yawn that flashes the canines is usually a threat or a sign of tension, not sleepiness.

2. The “smile”

A bared-teeth grimace is closer to a nervous apology than a grin. It signals submission and appeasement to a higher-ranking individual.

3. Lip-smacking

Rapid lip-smacking is friendly. It is the primate equivalent of saying “we are fine here” before approaching.

4. Eyebrow flashing

Raised brows with a hard stare is a challenge in many guenons. The same movement with a relaxed face is an invitation to play.

5. The open-mouth play face

Mouth open, teeth covered, head bobbing. This is the “I am joking” marker that keeps rough play from turning into a fight. More on signalling in Monkey Facial Expressions and Emotions.

Social Comedy

6. Presenting the rump

Turning and presenting is often a greeting or a peace offer rather than a mating invitation.

7. Reassurance mounting

Brief mounting between same-sex individuals is frequently a tension-reducer after conflict.

8. Hugging after a fight

Reconciliation is real and measurable. Former opponents groom or embrace to repair the relationship, a pattern explored in Monkey Behavior and Social Life.

9. Grooming a sleeping troop mate awake

Grooming buys tolerance, support and future favours, so it is worth interrupting a nap for. See Why Monkeys Groom Each Other.

10. Tail twining

Titi monkeys sit side by side and wrap tails. It is a bond display between partners and offspring.

11. Riding on mum’s back like a jockey

Infants shift from belly-clinging to back-riding as they grow, a milestone covered in Baby Monkeys.

12. Screaming for backup

A young macaque that loses a squabble will scream until relatives arrive. Recruitment calls work, which is why they are so loud.

Food Antics

13. Stuffing cheeks to bursting

Cheek pouches let a monkey grab a risky windfall and chew it later in safety.

14. Washing food

Some macaque troops dunk food in water. It removes grit and may add salt, and the habit spreads by copying.

15. Fishing for shellfish with stones

Coastal long-tailed macaques hammer open shells, and capuchins crack nuts on stone anvils. See Do Monkeys Use Tools?

16. Stealing the biggest piece and running

Snatch-and-flee is rational in a rank-based group where a dominant animal can simply take your lunch.

17. Rejecting a fruit after inspecting it for ages

Monkeys sniff, squeeze and even bite-test ripeness. Fussiness is nutrition, not drama, and species diets differ hugely, as shown in Monkey Diet by Species.

Odd Habits With Good Reasons

18. Urine washing

Capuchins and squirrel monkeys rub urine on hands and feet. It seems to work as scent marking and social signalling.

19. Soaking in hot springs

Japanese macaques bathe in volcanic pools in winter, which lowers stress hormones and helps with cold. Background in Monkeys That Live in Snowy Climates.

20. Rolling snowballs

Young macaques make and carry snowballs with no obvious payoff. Play builds motor skills and social ties.

21. Sneezing in the rain

Snub-nosed monkeys with upturned nostrils sneeze in downpours and sit with heads tucked to keep water out.

22. Sunbathing with arms spread

Morning basking warms a body that cooled overnight and saves energy.

Tourist-Zone Trickery

23. Sunglasses theft and hostage trading

At temple sites in Bali and Thailand, macaques learn that certain human objects can be traded back for food. That is learned bargaining, not mischief for its own sake.

24. Opening bags and bottles

Zips, screw caps and latches are all solvable puzzles for a species that opens fruit and shellfish, which is why they are also the basis of good enrichment toys.

25. Ignoring you completely

Habituated monkeys treat people as scenery. It looks like calm confidence, and it is the point at which conflict risk rises for both sides. Never feed or crowd wild monkeys.

Related Reading

• 50 Amazing Monkey Facts
• Weird and Wonderful Monkey Facts
• How Monkeys Communicate
• Monkey Myths and Misconceptions
• Top Monkey Questions Answered