What infraorder contains the New World monkeys?

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What infraorder contains the New World monkeys? Platyrrhini contains the New World monkeys.

Platyrrhini is the primate grouping traditionally recognized as the New World monkeys. In many modern classifications, it is ranked as a parvorder within the simians rather than strictly as an infraorder, but quiz references commonly use the broader wording “infraorder” for this branch. Its name comes from Greek words meaning “broad-nosed,” referring to the sideways-facing nostrils typical of these monkeys.

New World monkeys live mainly in tropical regions of Mexico, Central America, and South America. The group includes marmosets, tamarins, capuchins, squirrel monkeys, night monkeys, titis, sakis, uakaris, howler monkeys, spider monkeys, and woolly monkeys. They are divided among five living families, including Callitrichidae, Cebidae, Aotidae, Pitheciidae, and Atelidae.

Platyrrhines are often contrasted with Catarrhini, the simian branch containing Old World monkeys and apes. A notable distinction is that atelid monkeys such as spider monkeys possess prehensile tails. Genetic and fossil evidence indicates that their ancestors descended from African simians and reached South America roughly 40 million years ago.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026

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