Monkeys are common names for some primates. The whole primate can be divided into two suborders due to the different evolutionary levels-prosimia and anthropoid suborder, also known as prosimia and anthropoid suborder.

Among them, primitive monkeys refer to some primitive monkeys with low evolutionary level, which are very different from the monkeys in our memory in appearance and habits. Apes are divided into monkeys and apes, of which the latter includes gibbons and orangutans with high evolutionary level. Their biggest feature is that they have no monkey's signature tail and are closer to humans.

Therefore, in a narrow sense, monkeys are all kinds of primate apes except apes. In fact, monkeys are not a strict taxonomic unit in the scientific sense. Monkeys are distributed in the old world (Asia, Africa and Europe) and the new world (America). Such geographical isolation enables monkeys in their respective regions to evolve independently.

Auspicious implication

Han people generally think that monkeys are mascots. Because the monkey is homophonic with Hou, and Hou is one of the five titles in ancient China, such as Gong, Hou, Bo, Zi and Gong, in many traditional pictures, the image of the monkey indicates the meaning of sealing Hou and becomes a symbol of good luck.

For example, a monkey climbed a maple tree and hung a seal, which means "seal the weather and hang a seal"; A monkey is riding on horseback, which means "seal the Hou immediately"; Two monkeys sit on a pine tree, or one monkey rides on the back of another monkey, which means "waiting for generations"