The golden snub-nosed monkey, also known as the orange monkey, snub-nosed leaf monkey, or Sichuan golden-haired monkey, is found only in central and southwestern China and the mountainous regions of Tibet. These monkeys live at elevations ranging from about 5,200 to 13,000 feet.

Golden snub-nosed monkeys belong to a group known as Old World monkeys. But what exactly does that mean? Like humans, Old World monkeys have nostrils that are positioned close together and hands with fingernails. They also have thickened skin around their tails that provides cushioning when they sit. Although their tails are long, they are not prehensile, unlike the tails of many New World monkeys.

1. Their short noses help them survive the cold

Golden snub-nosed monkeys have unusually short noses. One explanation for this distinctive feature is their extremely cold mountain habitat. A larger nose would have a greater surface area exposed to the cold and could be more difficult to keep warm.

2. Their thick fur protects them from freezing temperatures

These monkeys are covered almost entirely in long, dense fur, with the exception of their noses and mouths. Their heavy coat provides valuable insulation and helps them withstand the cold conditions found at high elevations.

3. They spend most of their lives in trees

Golden snub-nosed monkeys are arboreal animals, meaning they spend most or nearly all of their time living among trees. Their tree-dwelling lifestyle is well suited to the mountainous forest habitats they call home.

4. They eat a surprisingly varied diet

Their food includes many different plant and animal materials. Golden snub-nosed monkeys feed on tree bark, seeds, buds, leaves, insects, fruit, and lichen.

Lichen is particularly interesting because it develops through a partnership between fungi and algae. This varied diet allows the monkeys to make use of different food sources available throughout their mountain environment.

5. Small family groups join together into huge troops

A typical social group, or band, consists of one adult male accompanied by several females. Multiple bands can gather together to create much larger troops containing hundreds of monkeys.

This social structure allows golden snub-nosed monkeys to live in remarkably large communities despite the challenging conditions of their mountainous habitat.

6. They face numerous natural predators

Golden snub-nosed monkeys are hunted by a variety of predators. Wild dogs, wolves, wild cats, foxes, leopards, tigers, and golden eagles can all pose a threat to these monkeys.

Because they live in forests and mountainous terrain, the monkeys must remain alert to predators approaching both on the ground and from above.

7. Females usually give birth to a single baby

A female golden snub-nosed monkey typically gives birth to one infant between March and June. Newborns have gray fur rather than the more distinctive coloring associated with adults.

The young monkey can retain its gray coloration for as long as three months before gradually developing its more characteristic appearance.

8. They can communicate without moving their mouths

Golden snub-nosed monkeys are highly vocal animals and are capable of producing as many as 18 different types of calls.

One especially fascinating feature of their communication is that they can produce many of these sounds without obvious movement of the mouth. This unusual ability makes their vocal behavior somewhat similar to that of a ventriloquist, with the sound seeming to come from an animal that is barely moving its lips.