White monkeys are a rare and fascinating group of primates that captivate us with their unique coloration. While most monkey species have darker fur, some have genetic mutations resulting in white or pale fur. These stark white coats make them stand out in their natural habitats.
White monkeys inhabit various regions across the globe including South America, Africa and Asia. They belong to different genera, with the white color arising due to genetic reasons in each species independently. Let’s explore some of the most spectacular white monkey species found around the world.
Unique White Monkey Species
Silvery Marmoset
The silvery marmoset is a small New World monkey native to the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil. As the name suggests, they have silvery-white fur covering their entire body. Their heads have gray skin and a few white hairs, contrasting with the shining white fur on the rest of their 11-inch bodies.
Silvery marmosets are arboreal, spending their time high up in the rainforest canopy. They live in social groups and feed primarily on tree sap.
White-Headed Capuchin
The white-headed capuchin is a Central American species found in the tropical forests of Honduras and Nicaragua. Adults develop bright white fur on their heads, necks, shoulders, and upper arms. Their bodies are darker brown or black.
These intelligent and social monkeys live in groups of up to 20 individuals. They are very dexterous and use tools in the wild.
Golden Snub-Nosed Monkey
Inhabiting the mountain forests of central China, the golden snub-nosed monkey has a pale yellowish coat and a bright pink face. The males can have almost fully white fur, especially in the winter, while the females and young ones tend to be paler yellow.
These monkeys have a strange upturned nose and are adapted to live in cold, high-altitude forests. They spend most of their time in the trees.
Japanese Macaque
The Japanese macaque is the most northern-living nonhuman primate, found even in snowy mountainous areas of Japan. Some populations have mutations resulting in white fur, like the famous “snow monkeys” living near hot springs in Nagano.
White Japanese macaques are lighter brown at birth but develop bright white fur as they grow older. Their skin remains blackish. They cope with the cold climate thanks to hot spring baths.
Mandrill
The mandrill is the most colorful primate species, normally having a bright blue and red face and rump. But the mandrill can also be born with albinism, resulting in an entirely white coat, pink skin, and red eyes. Both its colorful and all-white forms make it truly unique among monkeys.
White Patas Monkey
The patas monkey inhabits the savanna woodlands of Africa. It’s the fastest land mammal on the continent, reaching speeds of 55 mph.
The patas monkey usually has grayish-brown fur but can rarely be completely white with albinism. These albino patas monkeys have been spotted in the wild in Cameroon.
De Brazza’s Monkey
This striking monkey inhabits the riverine forests of Central Africa. Adults are mostly dark with a bright orange crescent on their forehead and white beard. But young De Brazza’s monkeys have pale gray and almost white fur which darkens as they mature.
These monkeys are very agile and known for their distinctive tail-wrapping movements as they leap through the treetops.
Allen’s Swamp Monkey
Allen’s swamp monkey lives in the swampy forests of central Africa and is endangered due to habitat loss. It has brown fur as an adult. But babies are born with stunning silvery-white fur all over their bodies which gradually darkens over the first 4-5 months.
White-Thighed Colobus
The white-thighed colobus inhabits lowland rainforests across the west of Central Africa. It has mostly black fur but babies are born completely white. As they grow into juveniles and adults, their bodies remain predominantly white while the head, limbs and tail turn black.
These monkeys are incredibly agile leapers, an adaptation to avoid predators in their treetop home.
Causes of White Coloration in Monkeys
So what makes monkeys turn white? There are two main genetic reasons behind their unusual coloration.
Leucism
Leucism is a partial loss of pigmentation. It results in white patches on monkeys that otherwise have normally colored fur. Many of the species mentioned above have leucistic forms, like the white heads of white-headed capuchins or white thighs of white-thighed colobuses.
Leucistic monkeys have normal eye color and are not true albinos. But their white fur still makes them stand out.
Albinism
Albinism is a total lack of melanin pigmentation, resulting in fully white monkeys with pink skin and eyes. Albino individuals arise due to mutations in genes involved in melanin production and occur in most monkey species, but very rarely.
Examples include albino mandrills, patas monkeys, and Japanese macaques. Albinism reduces vision and makes monkeys easier for predators to spot, so it’s challenging for survival in the wild.
Threats Facing These Rare Primates
While fascinating to observe, the unusual white color puts these monkeys at higher risk of threats in the wild.
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Predation – Their bright coats make them stand out to predators like big cats, raptors and snakes. Albino monkeys suffer especially due to their poor eyesight.
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Social exclusion – They can be bullied and excluded from social monkey groups due to looking different.
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Habitat loss – Deforestation is a major threat affecting many white monkey populations, like Allen’s swamp monkeys.
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Hunting – Their unique appearance means white monkeys are often captured for illegal trade as exotic pets. Some are poached for body parts used in traditional Asian medicine.
To protect these rare and beautiful monkey species, we need to safeguard their forest habitats and clamp down on illegal poaching and trade. Responsible ecotourism focused on seeing them in the wild can also raise awareness and funding for conservation.
The Special Significance of White Monkeys
While rare, white monkeys hold special significance in many cultures. In Buddhism and Hinduism, white monkeys represent patience and calmness. They are seen as wise teachers. Hanuman, the Hindu monkey god, is depicted as white.
In ancient Mayan and Aztec civilizations, white monkeys symbolized the sun and were seen as representations of the gods.
With their conspicuous coloration, intelligence and often calm temperament, white monkeys continue to entrance and inspire us. Conserving their fragile forest homes is crucial to ensuring their survival and our ability to continue learning from our rare, white-furred cousins.
The colobus is the most arboreal of all African monkeys.
These monkeys rarely descend to the ground. They use branches as trampolines, jumping up and down on them to get liftoff for leaps of up to 15 meters (50 feet). They leap up and then drop downward, falling with outstretched arms and legs to grab the next branch. Their mantle hair and tails are believed to act as a parachute during these long leaps. They are a highly arboreal species; however, when the trees are not as dense, they will descend to the ground to hunt and feed.
They live in territorial troops.
They live in troops of about five to ten animals — a dominant male, several females, and their young. Some groups will temporarily have multiple males, but they leave once they have matured. The females, however, remain with their birth group for their entire life. Each troop has a well-defined territory, which is defended from other groups. Adult troop members, especially males, make croaking roars that can be heard resonating throughout the forest. Despite their territorial nature, fighting over mates rarely occurs but there is a high infanticide rate when a male leadership role is replaced or taken over.
White Monkey Jobs in China Explained
FAQ
What are white monkeys called?
Capuchin monkeys, also called white-faced monkeys, occupy the wet lowland forests on Caribbean coast of Costa Rica and Panama and deciduous dry forest on the Pacific coast.
How rare is a white monkey?
For instance, Lan Shih-ning, the famous artist of the Ching dynasty depicted such a creature to exemplify purity and nobility in a painting entitled “A Hundred Generations of Feudal Lords.” Zoologists point out that only one monkey in 100,000 is white-haired (albino).
What are white-faced monkeys called?
The white-faced capuchin, also known as the white-throated capuchin, is a medium-sized monkey native to South America, characterized by its distinct white fur on the face, chest, and legs, contrasting with its brownish-black fur on the back.
Does Japan have white monkeys?
Fumio Chijimi, 79, head of the civic “Shirozaru-kai” (white monkey association), says there are a total of four white monkeys in two groups that can be confirmed within the municipal limits of Yonezawa, Yamagata Prefecture, and they get along well with the other monkeys.
Are all monkeys white?
No, not all monkeys are white. While almost all species can have white individuals due to albinism, most white monkeys are known on a per-species basis. The white nuance may be specific to both males and females of a species or it may change over time.
Where do black and white monkeys live?
Monkeys live in different parts of the world from Africa to South America and Asia. Some species are black and white or at least partly black and white. They can be spotted easily since most are arboreal. Black and white monkeys are generally aggressive, particularly among each other or other monkey species.
Do white monkeys live in groups?
White monkeys, like other macaques, tend to live in groups. These groups can have a single male or no males at all, and there are also groups where males live together. A form of hereditary White-Mantled Tamarin group also exists.
Are white monkeys always albino?
White monkeys are always albino due to a genetic condition that causes a lack of melanin in the skin, hair, and eyes. This makes them a rare occurrence among primates, with experts only having a record of a handful.
What is the only white monkey in the world?
The albino monkey that is presented to you here is the only white monkey that you can find in the whole world. It was spotted while playing with his mates, a group of vervet monkeys, in the South African national park that is known as Kruger National Park.
What is the genetic condition that causes white monkeys?
White monkeys are a rare occurrence among primates due to albinism, a genetic condition presenting a lack of melanin in the skin, hair, and eyes. Experts only have a record of a handful, making them a unique sight in the wild.