There are currently over 200 species of monkeys in the world. They vary greatly in appearance, with many species having very unusual looks, some even appearing quite frightening. So, which monkeys have unusual appearances? Which monkey is considered the least attractive? Let's take a look at the 10 strangest monkey species in the world, including the red-faced macaque, golden lion tamarin, white-faced saki monkey, proboscis monkey, and black-and-white tamarisk, among others. Let's find out!
1. Red-crowned monkey
The red-headed macaque is considered a variant of the white-headed macaque and primarily inhabits the deep forests of Brazil, Peru, and Colombia. This monkey has a striking, bright red head, earning it the amusing nickname "British monkey" among South Americans. Considered one of the ugliest monkeys in the world, its face has almost no fat under its skin, and its neck bones are prominent, giving it a devilish appearance—truly the "Qianchi" of the monkey world.
2. Golden-headed Lion Tamarin
Brazil's tropical regions are home to the golden lion tamarin, whose fur is mostly dark black, while its head displays a beautiful golden hue. The golden lion tamarin is one of the rarest and most brightly colored primates in the world. Its appearance is truly unique, especially the orange, dense, and long mane-like fur around its face. This feature makes the golden lion tamarin resemble a miniature lion, naturally attracting attention.
3. White-faced monk-monkey
The white-faced saki monkey is the smallest species in the genus *Sakigastromys*, and its appearance is quite distinctive. Its face is round and slightly flat, covered with short, dense fur, somewhat resembling the face of an old monk. White-faced saki monkeys also exhibit sexual dimorphism; males are larger, and there is a clear difference in fur color between males and females. Males are entirely black except for their white faces; females have shorter, mottled brown fur, with two pale vertical lines running from their eyes to their noses. Additionally, sometimes their chests are covered with orange-brown fur that extends to their abdomen.
4. Proboscis monkey
When it comes to monkeys with unique appearances, the proboscis monkey is undoubtedly one of them. These proboscis monkeys have remarkably large noses. Especially the males, whose noses grow larger with age, eventually forming large, reddish noses resembling eggplants. When excited, their large noses stand up or sway up and down, giving a very excited impression. The female proboscis monkeys' noses are relatively normal. Because this large nose hangs in front of their mouths and sways back and forth, they have to tilt it to one side when eating.
5. Black and white tamarisk monkey
The black and white tamarisk, also known as the black and white spotted marmoset or bicolor tamarisk, gets its name from its predominantly black, white, and brown coloration. It primarily inhabits the Brazilian Amazon rainforest. This monkey is an endangered primate. Unlike other monkeys, the black and white tamarisk's face isn't typically red and cute. Instead, its appearance is somewhat frightening, especially when it opens its mouth wide, revealing sharp teeth, resembling a vicious, blue-faced, fanged beast.
6. Black-capped capuchin monkey
The black-capped capuchin is a new species that split from the capuchin genus in 2012, forming the new genus *Capuchinus* along with several other species. Its most distinctive feature is the black tuft of hair on its head, which, from a distance, closely resembles the caped hat worn by Capuchin monks. Therefore, it also has a common name: the caped capuchin. Female black-capped capuchins generally have more pointed faces, while males have more square faces. Some adult male black-capped capuchins exhibit a square face and full beard, giving them a rather imposing appearance, making them arguably one of the most uniquely shaped monkeys.
7. Aye-aye
The aye-aye is a very peculiar-looking primate, not very large in size, and quite similar to a lemur. However, its face is even more terrifying. Its ears are very round and large, its snout is relatively short, and its entire face looks like a giant rat. Because of its terrifying appearance, coupled with its piercing cries, locals once considered it a symbol of witchcraft and would completely banish and kill it.
8. Tarsier
The tarsier is a rare, small monkey species and the smallest monkey ever recorded. Its most striking feature is its unique eyes—two large, round eyes located in the center of its tiny face. These eyes can exceed 1 centimeter in diameter, giving it a bizarre, almost alien appearance, both ugly and adorable. Scientific research indicates that tarsiers originated 60 million years ago; they are highly specialized primates with exceptional vision and hearing, and are remarkably intelligent.
9. Owl-faced long-tailed macaque
The owl-faced macaque is a uniquely shaped monkey with an owl-like face. Its fur is predominantly blackish-grey, with a distinctive golden spot on its forehead and a striking white stripe down the middle of its nose. Furthermore, its rump is a vibrant bright blue, making it exceptionally eye-catching. This remarkable monkey is mainly found in the Congo, northwestern Rwanda, and Uganda. They typically live in groups and prefer to live together. Their diet consists primarily of leaves and wild fruits, making it very healthy. Their activity peaks twice a year: early morning and late afternoon or evening.
10. Spider Monkey
Spider monkeys are considered a very special and interesting type of monkey. They have very long, slender limbs, a relatively small, round head, and a long tail. They are named spider monkeys because their appearance and the way they leap through trees resemble a giant black spider. What's most unsettling are their deep blue eyes, which give them a zombie-like appearance. Looking into a spider monkey's eyes feels as if they are trying to suck your soul in.
This list of the world's ten most bizarre-looking monkeys is compiled from various online rankings and is for entertainment purposes only. The data is current as of August 13, 2023.
