18 Types of Orange Monkeys You Need To Know About

Orange monkeys are some of the most visually striking primates in the world While many monkey species have orange coloring, especially as infants, some retain their bright coats into adulthood

In this article, we’ll take a close look at 18 different types of orange monkeys and what makes them unique. From the vibrant golden lion tamarins of Brazil to the rusty orange howlers of the Amazon, read on to learn more about these colorful creatures!

1. Golden Lion Tamarin

The golden lion tamarin is undoubtedly one of the most recognizable orange monkeys. Native to the tropical forests of southeastern Brazil these monkeys get their name from their vivid reddish-orange coats and the mane-like hair around their faces.

Adult males tend to be darker orange, while females and juveniles appear more golden in color. Golden lion tamarins grow to about 10 inches long and live in small family groups. They are active foragers and spend about half their day traveling and searching for food.

Sadly, habitat destruction has made the golden lion tamarin endangered. Conservation efforts have helped boost their population to around 3,700, but they remain at risk.

2. Squirrel Monkey

The Central American squirrel monkey is another very orange primate. It has orange fur on its back, arms and legs contrasted by a white face and black cap. Squirrel monkeys grow to 11 inches long and live in large social groups of up to 500 individuals.

Squirrel monkeys are quite vocal, using various squeaks and chirps to communicate. They inhabit tropical forests from Costa Rica to Panama. Though not considered threatened, deforestation is reducing their habitat.

3. Red Howler Monkey

Several red howler monkey species have orange coloration The Colombian red howler monkey has a uniform orange-red coat and black face, The Guianan red howler monkey has a brownish-orange back and darker orange on the limbs

Howler monkeys are named for their loud roars, used to mark their territory. Their large throat sacs allow them to create calls audible from over 3 miles away! Red howlers inhabit forests from Venezuela to Brazil.

4. Uakari

Uakaris are monkey species found in flooded Amazon rainforests. They have shaggy, orange coats and almost entirely bald faces in shades of red or black. The bright coloration may serve as camouflage in the reddish flooded forests they inhabit.

The bald uakari is perhaps the most vibrant, with a shockingly vermillion face and long orange fur. Uakaris live in large social groups with a harem-type mating system. They feed mainly on seeds and fruit.

5. Tamarins

Several types of tamarin monkeys have orange markings. The golden lion tamarin was already mentioned, but there’s also Geoffroy’s saddle-back tamarin which has an orange forehead and saddle-shaped orange patch on its back.

The black-faced lion tamarin has a primarily orange body with a contrasting black face and crown. Tamarins are found in the tropical forests of Central and South America and normally live in groups of 2 to 15 individuals.

6. Howler Monkey

In addition to the red howlers mentioned earlier, other howler monkey species also exhibit some orange coloration. The Bolivian red howler has an overall orange or reddish-orange coat and black face.

The brown howler monkey can be variable, with some individuals appearing reddish-orange and others more brown or black. As their name suggests, vocalization is a defining trait of howler monkeys.

7. Saki Monkey

The bearded saki, also called the bearded monkey, is a type of saki monkey found in the rainforests of South America. It has shaggy fur that can range from grey to orangey-brown in color. They have bushy beards framing their hairy faces.

Bearded sakis live in small family groups of around 10-15 individuals. They mainly eat fruit and seeds, though leaves and insects supplement their diet. Males and females look similar apart from the male’s longer beard.

8. Leaf Monkey

The maroon langur, found on the island of Borneo, is a type of leaf monkey with striking coloration. Males are deep maroon and orange, while females are brighter orange overall. Leaf monkeys are named for their primary diet of leaves.

The dusky langur is another leaf monkey with an orange infant coat. They lose the orange hue as they mature, becoming various shades of grey and brown. Leaf monkeys inhabit tropical forests across southeast Asia.

9. Colobus Monkey

Colobus monkeys display orange or red coloration. The western red colobus has reddish fur on its chest and around the face. The Niger Delta red colobus is more brownish overall with rusty orange sections.

Colobus monkeys live in troops of 5 to 80 members in African rainforests. While leaves make up the bulk of their diet, they also eat flowers, fruit and twigs. Colobus monkeys have specialized compartmentalized stomachs to ferment leaves.

10. Snub-nosed Monkey

The golden snub-nosed monkey inhabits the mountain forests of central China. It has a pale blue face surrounded by long golden-orange hairs like a lion’s mane. The orange color is present on the neck, shoulders and crown.

These monkeys live in enormous groups of up to 600 members. They withstand frigid winters thanks to their thick fur. The golden snub-nose is endangered, with as few as 8,000 remaining in the wild.

11. Titi Monkey

Titi monkeys are species found in South America’s tropical forests. The Rio Beni titi monkey has grayish-orange fur on its back that contrasts with the black cap and tail tip. Titi monkeys form monogamous bonds and live in small family groups.

The Madidi titi was only discovered in 2007. It has orange fur on the chest and inner limbs, with brown on the back. Titis primarily eat fruit and supplement their diet with leaves, flowers, and insects.

12. De Brazza’s Monkey

De Brazza’s monkey is an African species with bright orange sections. It has an orange cape starting from the shoulders that extends down the spine, orange cheeks, and whitish fur around the face.

These monkeys inhabit riverine forests across central Africa in small family groups. While rare overall, De Brazza’s monkey is not considered endangered. Their major threats are hunting and deforestation.

13. Drill

The drill is a large African monkey species with brownish-black fur and bright orange markings on the underside, rump, and the inner part of limbs. They also have bare orange patches on the chest.

These monkeys live in groups up to 65 members in the lowland and mountain forests of West Africa. Males have larger orange markings than females. Drills are social and quite vocal primates.

14. Mandrill

Closely related to drills, mandrills are arguably the most colorful of the orange monkey species. They have bright blue ridges along the nose and extremely vivid red and orange on the face, rump, and genitals.

Mandrills inhabit the rainforests of southern Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, and western Congo. Males are larger and have the brightest coloration. Mandrills are unfortunately endangered, due to habitat loss and hunting.

15. Gelada

The gelada, also called the bleeding-heart baboon, lives in the high grasslands of Ethiopia. It has a hairless black face with white eyelids, and a large orange patch in the center of its chest. The orange color comes from the skin itself rather than the fur.

Geladas are highly social primates and live in enormous groups of up to 800 monkeys – the largest group sizes of any primate. They mainly graze on grass, but also eat seeds, roots, and fruits. Geladas are not endangered.

16. Patas Monkey

The patas monkey is a West African species recognized by its reddish-orange coat and black legs. They have white bellies and throats, a black face, and gray cap on the head. Males tend to be slightly more orange than females.

Patas monkeys inhabit savanna woodlands and grasslands in small harem groups. They are incredibly fast runners, reaching speeds up to 55 mph. This allows them to hunt small prey like lizards and birds.

17. Toque Macaque

The toque macaque is endemic to the jungles of Sri Lanka. It is light orange to reddish-brown with a pinkish face and gray cap. The name comes from the whorl of hair on its head said to resemble a brimless hat.

Toque macaques are both arboreal and terrestrial, spending time in both trees and on the ground. Their groups contain 10-50 members and are led by a dominant female. They eat mainly fruit and vegetation.

18. Proboscis Monkey

Lastly, the odd-looking proboscis monkey is known for its large drooping nose and orange coloration. It has an orange to reddish-brown coat, darker on the limbs and back. Males have brighter orange faces.

This endangered species inhabits coastal mangrove forests on the island of Borneo. Unique adaptations like webbed toes help them move easily through swampy mangroves. They live and forage in groups by the water’s edge.

Those are 18 monkey species around the world that exhibit orange coloration to various degrees. Orange coats likely serve purposes like camouflage in forest habitats or signaling social status. The exact reason remains unclear. Unfortunately, many orange monkeys are endangered due to factors like deforestation. Preserving their habitats will be key to protecting these one-of-a-kind primates.