Apes and monkeys. They are our closest relatives in the animal kingdom. Their peculiarities and abilities, their behaviour and mysteries fascinate us to the core. Indeed, they resemble us in so many ways. Monkeys and Apes in the Wild illustrates the enormous diversity among them, a fact that is apparent just in the range of sizes: While the pygmy marmoset weighs roughly 100 grams, an adult gorilla can be 270 kilos.

Ingo Arndt introduces us to some of the most impressive species, the case studies for the fascinating variety of these animals. Among them are intelligent orangutans, whose name literally means "forest person;" "cultured" Japanese macaques, who enjoy bathing in warm volcanic hot springs; mighty, but usually peaceful gorillas; geladas from the barren grassy regions of the Ethiopian Highlands; and bald uakaris – extensively documented here for the first time – from the swamp forests of the Amazon headwaters.

Each section features an informative introductory chapter by zoologist Fritz Jantschke.