🚣Monkeys likely traveled from Africa to South America on a raft made of driftwood and vegetation.
🌊Factors like ocean currents, calm waves, and heavy rainfall made the rafting journey slightly more likely.
🦧The rafting hypothesis is the most plausible explanation, as there were no land bridges or flying abilities involved.
🌍Rafting also brought lemurs to Madagascar and reptiles to the Galapagos islands.
🌟Improbable events have happened many times over in the history of the world.
How did the monkeys survive on the raft?
—The raft likely provided enough food and water for the monkeys to survive the journey.
Were there any other potential explanations for the monkeys' journey?
—No, there were no land bridges connecting Africa and South America, and the monkeys could not simply walk or swim across the ocean.
Why is the rafting hypothesis considered the most plausible explanation?
—The rafting hypothesis takes into account the geographical constraints and the lack of alternative explanations for the monkeys' presence in South America.
Did other animals also travel to new locations via rafts?
—Yes, rafting has also brought lemurs to Madagascar and reptiles to the Galapagos islands.
Do improbable events happen frequently in the world?
—Yes, the world is big enough and time is long enough for improbable events to occur multiple times.
00:00African monkeys in South America are descendants of African monkeys based on DNA analysis.
00:17Monkeys likely traveled from Africa to South America on a raft made of driftwood and vegetation, according to scientists.
01:18The rafting hypothesis is the most plausible explanation, as there were no land bridges connecting the continents and monkeys cannot swim or fly across the ocean.
01:26Factors like ocean currents, calm waves, and heavy rainfall made the rafting journey slightly more likely.
02:21Rafting has also brought lemurs to Madagascar and reptiles to the Galapagos islands.
02:43Improbable events, given enough attempts, can happen due to the vastness of the world and the passage of time.
02:48Support MinuteEarth by sending a Super Thanks to directly support their work.
03:24Donations help MinuteEarth spend more time making videos about science and less time on other activities.
