New World monkey

[noo wurld muhng-kee, nyoo]

noun

1. any of various platyrrhine primates inhabiting forests from Mexico to Argentina, with arboreal habits and typically having a hairy face, widely separated nostrils, long arms, and a long tail, which is prehensile in a great many species, including howlers, spider monkeys, and woolly monkeys: in contrast, no species of Old World monkey has a prehensile tail.

New World monkey

noun

1. any monkey of the family Cebidae, of Central and South America, having widely separated nostrils: many are arboreal and have a prehensile tail Compare Old World monkey

Word History and Origins

Origin of New World monkey¹

First recorded in 1860–65

Example Sentences

There are more than 500 species of primates, including lemurs, lorises, tarsiers, Old and New World monkeys, the "small apes" - gibbons and siamangs - and the "great apes" - orangutans, gorillas, chimpanzees and bonobos.

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Birds, some bats, ferrets, and New World monkeys all separately made the same evolutionary change.

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The endangered New World monkey weighs less than two pounds.

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Old World and New World monkeys were next.

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Among some modern primates - namely lemurs, lorises, and tarsiers, and two New World monkeys - the second toe on each foot has a toilet claw.

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