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Related: About this forumHere's why there are no monkeys native to North America
Here's why there are no monkeys native to North America
Damn.
JOSH HRALA
17 JUN 2016
North America has its fair share of awesome creatures roaming around, but theres one group of animals that never took root: monkeys. There are a few wild monkeys in Mexico, but in the US and Canada? None.
And when you think about it, that doesnt seem to make a lot of sense, because there are monkeys thriving in vastly different environments all over the world. In Japan, snow monkeys love the chill of mountain air, while howler monkeys love the hot and humid climate of the Amazon rainforest. So, if monkeys can exist in all kinds of climates, why not North America?
Before we dive into that question, we need to first discuss a time period known as the Eocene Epoch, which based on the fossil record researchers think stretched from 56 to 33.9 million years ago.
During this time, greenhouse gases trapped inside Earths atmosphere caused a heat wave of epic proportions that allowed tropical rainforests to cover the globe - researchers have even found evidence that palm trees used to flourish in places like Alaska.
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More:
http://www.sciencealert.com/why-are-there-no-monkeys-in-north-america
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Howler Monkeys in Costa Rica.
Who wouldn't love them? [/center]
burrowowl
(17,646 posts)JohnnyRingo
(18,641 posts)I have enough trouble with groundhogs and raccoons as it is. I don't need monkeys climbing around the house tearing down eave spouts, throwing garbage cans, and jumping on the cars.
They can keep all the cobras too. hahaha
awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)Are they not native, or is Mexico no longer considered part of North America?
greiner3
(5,214 posts)It has to do with Panacea breaking up. Africa and South America broke up and the primates evolved very differently going forward. North America also drifted westward but was not attached via Central America until very recently. So pondering your question, I demure to experts whether Mexican monkeys are indigenous or escaped as pets from tourists.
DreamGypsy
(2,252 posts)...Pangaea
Panaceas don't really exist, although we would like them to...
The panacea /pænəˈsiːə/, named after the Greek goddess of universal remedy Panakeia, Panacea, also known as panchrest, was supposed to be a remedy that would cure all diseases and prolong life indefinitely.
The closest things to a panacea that humanity has discovered are dogs and beer.
chknltl
(10,558 posts)Why oh why wasn't George's birth cirtificate discussed at DU back then?