Monkey vs. Langur — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 7, 2024
Monkeys are a broad category of primates with diverse species and habitats, typically known for their tails; langurs are a specific group of Asian monkeys noted for their slender bodies and long tails.
Difference Between Monkey and Langur
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Monkeys encompass a wide variety of species worldwide, including both New World and Old World monkeys, featuring diverse physical and behavioral traits. On the other hand, langurs are a specific subset of Old World monkeys predominantly found in South and Southeast Asia, characterized by their more uniform traits like slender builds and often complex social structures.
While monkeys can have varying diets based on their species and habitat, ranging from fruits and insects to small animals, langurs primarily have a herbivorous diet, mainly consuming leaves, fruits, and flowers. This difference in diet reflects their adaptations to their respective environments.
Monkeys generally display a broad range of sizes and colors, from the small, colorful marmosets to the larger, more subdued baboons. In contrast, langurs typically have more restrained color palettes and sizes, with many species having grey or brown fur.
The social structures of monkeys can vary significantly; some species are solitary, while others live in complex, hierarchical groups. Langurs, however, are known for their well-defined troop dynamics, often involving intricate interactions and social bonds within groups.
Habitat-wise, monkeys are found in various environments from rainforests to savannahs across the Americas, Africa, and Asia. Langurs are more geographically confined, mostly inhabiting forested regions and urban areas within Asia, showcasing their adaptation to both natural and human-modified landscapes.
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Comparison Chart
Geographic Distribution
Americas, Africa, Asia
Mainly South and Southeast Asia
Diet
Omnivorous (varies by species)
Herbivorous (leaves, fruits)
Body Size and Color
Highly variable, from small and colorful to large and plain
Generally slender, often grey or brown
Social Structure
Ranges from solitary to complex social groups
Typically in well-defined troops with complex social dynamics
Habitat
Rainforests, savannahs, mountains
Forests, urban areas in Asia
Compare with Definitions
Monkey
Slang for a sum of £500.
He owed me a monkey, so he paid up last week.
Langur
Characterized by their black faces and long, gray fur.
The gray langurs sitting atop the temple walls are a common sight in many parts of Asia.
Monkey
A term used colloquially to describe a mechanical device or gadget.
Grab that monkey wrench to tighten this bolt.
Langur
Herbivorous primates found mainly in South and Southeast Asia.
Langurs play a crucial role in their ecosystems by dispersing seeds through their feces.
Monkey
A small to medium-sized primate that typically has a tail, known for its ability to climb trees.
The capuchin is a type of monkey often seen performing tricks in various entertainments.
Langur
A member of several species of slender Old World monkeys belonging to the genus Semnopithecus.
Langurs are often noticed for their long tails and contemplative expressions.
Monkey
A mischievous or playful person or child.
Her son is always climbing and jumping off furniture like a little monkey.
Langur
Primate with a complex social structure, often living in large troops.
Observing the social interactions within a troop of langurs can provide insights into primate behavior.
Monkey
Monkey is a common name that may refer to certain groups or species of simian mammals of infraorder Simiiformes. The term is applied descriptively to groups of primates, such as families of New World monkeys and Old World monkeys.
Langur
Known for their involvement in human-wildlife conflicts in urban areas.
In some Indian cities, langurs are employed to scare away other monkeys.
Monkey
Any of various tailed primates of the suborder Anthropoidea, including the macaques, baboons, capuchins, and marmosets, and excluding the apes.
Langur
Any of various leaf-eating Asian monkeys of the genera Presbytis, Semnopithecus, and Trachypithecus, having a slender body and a long tail. Also called leaf monkey.
Monkey
A nonhuman ape. Not in scientific use.
Langur
Any of the Old World monkeys of the subfamily Colobinae, in the genera Simias, Trachypithecus (lutungs), Presbytis (surilis), and Semnopithecus (gray langurs).
Monkey
One who behaves in a way suggestive of a monkey, as a mischievous child or a mimic.
Langur
A gibbon of the genus Hoolock.
Monkey
The iron block of a pile driver.
Langur
Slender long-tailed monkey of Asia
Monkey
(Slang) A person who is mocked, duped, or made to appear a fool
They made a monkey out of him.
Monkey
Offensive Slang Used as a disparaging term for a person with dark skin.
Monkey
To play, fiddle, trifle, or tamper with something
Who was monkeying with my phone?.
Monkey
To behave in a mischievous or apish manner
Stop monkeying around!.
Monkey
To imitate or mimic; ape.
Monkey
(properly) A member of the clade Simiiformes other than those in the clade Hominoidea containing humans and apes, generally (but not universally) distinguished by small size, tails, and cheek pouches.
He had been visiting an area zoo when a monkey swung from its tree perch, swiped his glasses and hurled them into a hippo hole.
Monkey
Any simian primate other than hominids, any monkey or ape.
Chimpanzees are known to form bands to hunt and kill other monkeys.
Monkey
A human considered to resemble monkeys in some way, including:
Monkey
A naughty or mischievous person, especially a child.
Stop misbehaving, you cheeky little monkey!
Monkey
(slang) The person in the motorcycle sidecar in sidecar racing.
Monkey
(pejorative) idiot: a person of minimal intelligence.
Monkey
(pejorative) uggo: an unattractive person, especially one whose face supposedly resembles a monkey's.
Monkey
Synonym of puppet: a person dancing to another's tune, a person controlled or directed by another.
No, no, no, not you. I want to talk to the organ grinder, not the monkey.
Monkey
A menial employee who does a repetitive job supposedly requiring minimal intelligence.
Code monkey... grease monkey... phone monkey... powder monkey...
Monkey
A black, a black person.
Monkey
(historical) A small trading vessel of the sixteenth century.
Monkey
The vessel in which a mess receives its full allowance of grog.
Monkey
The weight of a pile driver or drop hammer.
Monkey
A fluid consisting of hydrochloric acid and zinc, used in the process of soldering.
Monkey
(slang) five hundred, especially (British) 500 pounds sterling or 500 dollars.
Monkey
(blackjack) face card.
Monkey
(slang) A person's temper, said to be "up" when they are angry.
Monkey
(slang) A drug habit; an addiction; a compulsion.
Everybody's got something to hide except for me and my monkey.
Monkey
(dance) A dance popularized by Major Lance in 1963, now usually only its upper-body dance move involving exaggerated drumming motions.
Monkey
To meddle; to mess (with).
Please don't monkey with the controls if you don't know what you're doing.
Monkey
(transitive) To mimic; to ape.
Monkey
In the most general sense, any one of the Quadrumana, including apes, baboons, and lemurs.
Monkey
A term of disapproval, ridicule, or contempt, as for a mischievous child.
This is the monkey's own giving out; she is persuaded I will marry her.
Monkey
The weight or hammer of a pile driver, that is, a very heavy mass of iron, which, being raised on high, falls on the head of the pile, and drives it into the earth; the falling weight of a drop hammer used in forging.
Monkey
A small trading vessel of the sixteenth century.
Monkey
To act or treat as a monkey does; to ape; to act in a grotesque or meddlesome manner.
Monkey
Any of various long-tailed primates (excluding the prosimians)
Monkey
One who is playfully mischievous
Monkey
Play around with or alter or falsify, usually secretively or dishonestly;
Someone tampered with the documents on my desk
The reporter fiddle with the facts
Monkey
Do random, unplanned work or activities or spend time idly;
The old lady is usually mucking about in her little house
Monkey
Any member of the primate group excluding apes and humans, characterized by their reliance on trees for habitat.
Monkeys are often subjects of study in behavioral science due to their complex social interactions.
Common Curiosities
How do the habitats of monkeys compare to those of langurs?
Monkeys inhabit diverse environments including rainforests, savannahs, and mountainous regions across multiple continents, whereas langurs are mostly confined to forested areas and urban settings in South and Southeast Asia.
Are langurs considered endangered?
Some langur species are considered endangered due to habitat loss, hunting, and other human-induced factors.
What differentiates the physical appearance of monkeys from langurs?
Monkeys come in a wide range of sizes and colors, and many have prehensile tails, while langurs are generally more uniform in appearance with slender bodies, long tails, and typically do not have prehensile tails.
What role do langurs play in their ecosystems?
Langurs help in seed dispersal through their herbivorous diet, contributing to forest regeneration and biodiversity.
What are the typical predators of monkeys and langurs?
Common predators include birds of prey, large snakes, and carnivorous mammals like leopards and tigers, though the specific predators can vary based on their geographic location.
How do monkeys' and langurs' diets impact their health?
Monkeys with a more varied diet may face health issues related to improper food sources, especially in urban areas, whereas langurs' herbivorous diet is generally consistent but can be limited by habitat degradation.
How do monkeys communicate compared to langurs?
Both monkeys and langurs use a variety of vocalizations, body movements, and facial expressions to communicate, but the specific methods and complexity can vary widely among species.
How does the life expectancy of monkeys compare to that of langurs?
Life expectancy varies widely among monkey species but generally, langurs tend to have a lifespan similar to or slightly longer than many monkey species, often due to their more stable and less varied diets.
Can monkeys and langurs be kept as pets?
Keeping monkeys and langurs as pets is generally discouraged due to their complex social, dietary, and environmental needs, and is illegal in many places due to conservation laws.
Do monkeys and langurs display tool use?
Tool use is more commonly observed in some monkey species, particularly among more intelligent ones like capuchins and macaques, while langurs typically do not use tools.
What are the breeding habits of langurs compared to other monkeys?
Langurs generally have a slower breeding rate with extended care for the young, compared to some monkey species which may breed more frequently and have shorter juvenile care periods.
How do cultural perceptions of monkeys differ from those of langurs in their native regions?
Monkeys are often viewed with a mix of affection and as pests, depending on the region and context. Langurs, particularly in India, are sometimes revered and given a somewhat protective status in certain cultural contexts.
What are the challenges in studying wild monkeys compared to langurs?
Both present challenges due to their mobility and habitat, but studying arboreal monkeys in dense forests can be more challenging than langurs, which are often found in more accessible areas.
What efforts are being made to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts involving monkeys and langurs?
Efforts include educational campaigns, securing food sources to prevent raiding, and in some regions, employing langurs or using other deterrents to manage monkey populations in human-dominated landscapes.
What conservation efforts are in place for langurs?
Conservation efforts for langurs include habitat preservation, legal protection from hunting and trade, and various reforestation projects.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
