Meet Diff

Discover a World of Difference

Hello, I'm Diff! World of Difference's online friend and web mascot! My job is to show you just how exciting it is to learn about other cultures and countries! Now, I know what you are thinking. . . How is a monkey going to do that?

Well, in case you didn't know, of the six inhabited continents (Antarctica is uninhabited due to severe climate conditions), only Australia was never home to monkeys. That means that I have family all over the world! Let me tell you a little about us!

INTERESTING MONKEY FACTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Monkeys live in 92 different countries.

Monkeys in Central and South America are called New World Monkeys. They all have tails and use them for grasping.

Monkeys in Asia and Africa are called Old World Monkeys. With the exception of the colobus, they have thumbs like humans. They cannot swing by their tails.

The Mayan people of Central America believed that monkeys were divine creatures.
This belief is based on The Popul Vuh, a Mayan creation myth.

In India, monkeys are considered sacred because they are seen as manifestations of Hanuman.
In the Hindu faith, Hanuman, is a monkey god known for his courage and devotion. Today, the busy streets and government buildings of New Delhi, India's capital, are filled with monkeys!

In 2005, scientists discovered a new species of monkey, the highland mangabey, in the country of Tanzania in East Africa. This discovery was made with the help of a local tribe, the Wanyakyusa,
who had their own name for the shy monkey -- kipunji.

In ancient Egypt monkeys were kept as household pets. The Egyptians were known for mummifying their dead, a practice that applied to favorite household pets as well. Today a Monkey Mummy can be seen at the Egyptian Antiquities Museum in Cairo.

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