Monkey. Crowned Monkey, or Blue Monkey Crowned Monkey
- Class: Mammalia Linnaeus, 1758 \u003d Mammals
- Infraclass: Eutheria, Placentalia Gill, 1872 \u003d Placental, Higher Beasts
- Order: Primates Linnaeus, 1758 \u003d Primates
- Family: Cercopithecidae Gray, 1821 \u003d Lower narrow-nosed monkeys, monkeys, monkeys, monkeys
Species: Cercopithecus mitis Wolf \u003d Crowned [Blue] Monkey.
Blue (crowned) monkey is widespread in the east, in the center and south of the African continent in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, the territory of former Zaire, South Africa, northwestern Angola, Burundi, Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Sudan , Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The main part of its range is connected with the basin of the Congo River. The blue monkey prefers to settle in moist, shady regions with a large amount of water, living in the rain plain and mountain forests. The total area of \u200b\u200bthe range is approximately 3272 thousand km2. Of these, about 709 thousand km2 or 22% of the area are suitable habitats, 971 835 thousand km2, or 30% are moderately suitable, the remaining 49% of the area of \u200b\u200bthe range of the blue monkey are habitats inappropriate for their life.
The face is almost naked, usually dark in color; the body has well-developed muscles. The fur is short, mostly brown, and more gray along the edge of the face and mantle located above the shoulders. Belly and limbs are black. The forehead patch is a "diadem", light gray, whitish or yellowish. The blue monkey has well-developed cheek pouches in which it stores and transports excess food eaten. Nails are on all fingers, and the thumb is opposed to the rest.
The dental formula is 2/2 1/1 3/3 2/2 \u003d 32 teeth. The fangs in males are slightly larger than the fangs in females. Typical body temperature is 37.5C.
The blue monkey is a tree species that rarely descends to the ground. Most of the time they spend in the crowns of the trees, where they find both food and shelter and reliable shelter from enemies. A potential threat may be terrestrial predatory mammals (in particular, some feline - leopard, etc.), tree snakes and large birds of prey.
The blue monkey is a social species: they live in groups ranging in size from 10 to 40 individuals, containing only one adult male. Between males and females there is a pronounced sexual dimorphism in body size: males are significantly larger than females. Typical sizes: body from 50 to 65 cm in length; the tail is almost the same length as the rest of the animal; the weight of the females is slightly more than 4 kg, but the males weigh up to 8 kg.
Females in the group are closely related. They protect their territory from the invasion of neighboring groups. An adult male usually stays with the group for at least a few weeks to several years. Then he is replaced in the group by a younger and stronger sexually mature male. It is the male who has the full right to mate with all the females of the detachment, as they enter estrus.
Females of blue monkeys, like other representatives of the genus of monkeys, after entering estrus, demonstrate to the male their readiness for mating, showing their anal-genital area. It is the female who always acts as the initiator of the beginning of the marriage.
During mating, the female shows a special facial expression, protruding the lower lip forward, while the mouth remains closed, constantly looking over the shoulder at the male.
Females usually participate in breeding and bring the baby every two years. The birth of cubs is timed to the beginning of the warm, rainy season. A mother usually gives birth to one cub at night. She immediately eats the placenta and carefully licks the baby's fur. Birth weight is approximately 360-370 g.
Babies are born after 5 months of pregnancy relatively well developed: with open eyes and a body covered with fur. They are able to firmly hold on to the coat on the mother’s breast during her wanderings in the forest and her feeding. Other females of the group are very interested in the newborn and are constantly trying to hold new babies. From the breast, the female takes the cub at about 6 months, when he passes to feeding on solid food. Maternal care for the calf becomes less frequent over time, especially after the first few months, but continues until the birth of the next offspring, usually after 2 years.
Niramin - Feb 3rd, 2016
A blue monkey or a crowned monkey (Cercopithecus mitis) is a rather large animal - a primate of the genus Cercopithecus, lives in moist, shady tropical African forests. Males reach 70 cm, are distinguished by long fangs and characteristic whiskers, and have a long tail (up to 90 cm). Females are significantly smaller, body length up to 50 cm.
A feature of this type of monkey is a bluish coat color. A streak of hair with a white rim grows above the eyes, looking like a crown. Hence the second name of the species is the crowned monkey.
In the natural environment, these animals form flocks, consisting in the vast majority of females (up to 20-30 pcs.) At the head of the herd can be one, sometimes two males. Monkeys move along the branches of trees. Pregnancy lasts six months, one cub in the litter. The baby immediately grasps the hair tightly after birth and lives for six months under the protection of its mother. Growing up occurs in 3.5 years.
Young females grow and live in a herd with their mother, and males create their own herd. Sometimes monkeys create temporary communities in a mixed herd with other species of monkeys, in particular, with chimpanzees.
Usually crowned monkeys feed on plant foods: fruits, shoots, leaves, but can catch insects and amphibians, small mammals.
See photos of blue monkeys:
Photo: Blue Monkey.
Video: Samango monkeys (Cercopithecus mitis)
Video: Blue Monkeys (Cercopithecus mitis stuhlmanni) in Kakamega Forest Reserve
Video: Kilimanjaro BLUE MONKEYS in a state of alert - Lemosho Route, Tanzania
Video: Blue Monkeys
Video: Juvenile Kinda Baboons & Blue Monkeys Playing Together
After a year-long investigation, BBC reporters discovered a network of merchants with our closest relatives, the chimpanzee, spanning most of West and Central Africa. Chimpanzee babies are taken out of the wild, often wrested from the hands of their dead mothers, and then smuggled and sold to zoos and nurseries, and even as pets.
How do poachers work?
The BBC News channel featured a six-country atrocious smuggling network that sells poor apes. The average price for one chimpanzee cub is around $ 12,500. BBC News reporters found that many animals end up in the infamous blue room. 
This is a building in which chimpanzees are prepared for resale and take photos for potential buyers, always against the background of the blue tile of the room. Many benefactors have seen these photographs more than once, but no one knew in which country (not to mention in which city) this building is located. 
BBC and Police Collaboration Results
The investigation found that the “blue room” is located in the city of Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. As soon as confirmation appeared that the traders and the chimpanzees caught were there, they reported to Interpol and the local police, whose officers then raided the building and arrested the criminals. 
Routes and tactics were also identified by which smuggled monkeys, using fake permits, were sent to the Middle East, Southeast Asia and China, where they were then sold to wealthy people and to zoos.
Although troubling details about this smuggling network are only coming to light thanks to the BBC investigation, the trade that made chimpanzees, as well as gorillas and bonobos at risk, has been known for some time. Wildlife sanctuaries throughout Africa are filled with animals, most of which were seized from merchants and people who buy primates as pets. 
The scale of the tragedy
The scale that trade has reached on the continent is truly impressive. In order to catch one chimpanzee cub, it is estimated that up to 10 adult animals are killed on average. 
To make matters worse, only one chimpanzee out of five wrested from the wild usually gets to its final destination. The fact is that animals often die on the way from wounds inflicted by them during capture, or because of ill-treatment by smugglers. 
This means that for the capture of each chimpanzee living in a zoo or in a private collection, about 50 animals were killed. This horrifying figure indicates the enormous extent that poaching has reached, which is largely ignored. 
Extinction is inevitable?
The high price of chimpanzees is constantly pushing them closer and closer to extinction. Estimates show that if the current rate of poaching continues, then within a few decades in the wild there will no longer be chimpanzees. Are we ready to send our closest relatives, these living intelligent creatures, to extinction due to the demand for them as pets and status symbols?
Distributed in Central Africa: in the west-central part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, eastern Congo and southeastern Cameroon. It inhabits regularly flooded parts of coastal forests, primary, secondary and gallery forests of the Congo Basin.
Monkey Allen is a stocky monkey with short, but strong limbs. The cheeks are very hairy (the hair on them is long and somewhat resembles a lion's mane). The coat is soft and silky. The hands are short (compared to other monkeys). The face is bare. Between the fingers and toes there are small membranes that indicate a partially aquatic lifestyle. The sciatic corns are well developed. Sexual dimorphism is pronounced - males are larger than females. The body length from the head to the base of the tail in males is 45-60 cm, with a tail length of about 50 cm. The body weight of males is up to 6 kg, females up to 3.5 kg.
Allen monkeys live in groups of 23-57 individuals with several adult males. When feeding the group is divided into several subgroups (2-6 individuals). Communicating with members of one group, Allen's monkeys make grunting sounds. To greet or locate members of other groups, they make loud long requests. When a predator approaches, they chirp.
These are polygamous animals. The peak of the birth of cubs occurs in June. The female gives birth to one cub weighing up to 220 g. Lactation lasts up to 2.5-3 months. All this time, the cubs hang on their mother, clinging to her coat. They reach puberty at the age of 3-5 years. Life expectancy in nature is up to 20 years.
Hussar monkey
Patas monkey
(Erythrocebus patas)
Distributed south of the Sahara, from western Senegal to the east to eastern Ethiopia. In the south, the range is limited to equatorial forests. They live in wooded steppes and open savannahs.
The body length of the males is 58-75 cm, the length of the tail is 62-74 cm, weighs 7.5-12.5 kg. Females are almost 2 times lighter than males. All limbs are long, fangs are very large. The hussars have a muzzle elongated, as in macaques, with strong fangs. The body is slim, like a monkey. The hair of young people is soft, silky, and becomes coarse, shaggy with age. Its color on the upper side is reddish-red, on the lower parts of the body - pinkish-whitish. Cheek bundles of hair are always well developed, yellowish in color. Above the eyes is a dark strip that expands to the ears. Mustache is developed in both sexes, in adults it is white, and in young it is black. The nose protrudes. The hussars' hands and feet are elongated, but the fingers are short, especially the thumbs. Being land animals, hussars are well adapted for running on four limbs, they are able to reach speeds of up to 55 km / h. But they can also climb rocks or isolated trees located in their habitats. Hussars can also be seen on two legs during a period of anxiety, when they fearfully peek out from tall thick grass or carry food in their forelimbs. The tail is often used when standing as the third leg on which the hussars rest.
Hussars are territorial animals, kept in herds from 5 to 74 individuals, including males of higher and lower ranks, several females and cubs of different ages. There are herds consisting of only males. The male is always at the head of the herd and carries guard functions. Sometimes males move away from the group, and then one of the females “leads” the herd, but is constantly in visual contact with the male. An interesting feature of the hussars is the habit, with strong excitement, to jump from place to place. Hussars are rather timid and timid animals. They are very silent, and use only 4-5 sounds for communication. Females often "search" each other or cubs. Hussars usually sleep in trees, but do not have permanent places to sleep. During the day, in search of food, members of the herd are often scattered, but in such a way that they always see each other. The food of the hussars is diverse - grass, tree fruits, seeds, insects, lizards, birds and their eggs, honey.
Green monkey
Green monkey
(Chlorocebus sabaeus)
Distributed from Senegal and Guinea-Bissau east to Central Ghana and Burkina Faso. It was introduced to the islands of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Barbados and Cape Verde. These monkeys live in forests of various types, preferring rain forests, however, they also live in dry woodlands with undergrowth from a thorny shrub. Through the "gallery" forests along the river valleys penetrate into the savannah zone and even the southern deserts. Favorite habitats are near rivers, where they take refuge in the crowns of sycamore and other large trees. They are also found in the mountains of Ethiopia at an altitude of 1000-2000 m above sea level.
The length of the body from the head to the base of the tail in males is 4.2-6 cm, in females - 3-4.9 cm. The length of the tail is 30-48 cm. The mass of males is about 3.9-8 kg, females - 3.4- 5.3 kg Individuals of both sexes have long, sharp fangs.
Leads a daily lifestyle. Spends the night on the branches of trees or bushes. It moves on four limbs, both on trees and on the ground, and can go to a gallop in case of danger, and only occasionally jumps from tree to tree. It feeds on the fruits and seeds of trees, leaves, as well as insects, small birds and their eggs, usually on the ground. In nature, monkeys sometimes destroy crops of crops, crops of orchards and plantations, which encourages local farmers to hunt for them.
In the family group can be from 5 to 76 individuals. Females stick together, males lead a scattered life. Upon reaching puberty (genitals acquire a characteristic color), males are expelled from the herd. Females in the herd form a strict hierarchical system in which the daughter inherits the rank of mother. High-ranking individuals have advantages while feeding the herd. In the herd, females prefer to communicate with consanguineous relatives. Individuals of both sexes participate in the protection of the territory. Male adolescents take part in caring for babies, but adult males no longer express interest in offspring. Mothers allow other females to pick up their cubs. Low-ranking females caress a cub of a high-ranking female, expressing their respect.
Females reach puberty by 4 years, males by 5 years. Life expectancy: in nature up to 20 years, in captivity - up to 45 years.
Monkey
Grivet monkey
(Chlorocebus aethiops)
Distributed in Sudan, South Sudan, Eritrea and Ethiopia. The main habitat of these monkeys are savannahs.
The body length from the head to the base of the tail is about 46 cm in males and 42 cm in females. Tail length 30-50 cm. Body weight leaves 3.4-8 kg, females are lighter than males. The skin of the face is black, on the cheeks there are white tufts of hair, the back and the outer part of the limbs are olive-colored, the internal parts of the body are white.
Pregnancy lasts 2-3 months. Only one cub is born. The first few months, the cub is inseparable from the mother. After 6 months, he stops eating milk and switches to solid food.
Bail monkey
Bale monkey
(Chlorocebus djamdjamensis)
Distributed in Central Ethiopia. It lives in the forests of the Bail mountain system at an altitude of 2400-3000 m above sea level.
Tantalus Monkey
Tantalus monkey
(Chlorocebus tantalus)
Distributed in Central Africa, from the eastern part of the Volta River basin (Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana) to the east to Sudan, Uganda and Kenya (Lake Turkana). It lives at an altitude of up to 1900 m above sea level.
Spider
Vervet monkey
(Chlorocebus pygerythrus)
Vervetki are common in most parts of South and East Africa, from Ethiopia, Somalia and the extreme south of Sudan to South Africa. They cease to be found west of the East African Rift or the Luangwa River. Vervetki introduced by people are found on some Antilles, for example, on the islands of Barbados, Nevis and St. Kitts. Vervetki inhabit savannas, floodplains, coastal forests and mountains to heights of 4000 m above sea level. They are able to adapt to life in areas even with very thin out vegetation, including among cultivated areas, and sometimes they adapt to living in rural and urban conditions.
Vervetka has a black muzzle with a white fringe of hair, while the overall body color is mostly bluish-gray. Males are recognizable by their blue scrotum and red penis. This species demonstrates sexual dimorphism, males are larger in weight and body length. Adult males weigh from 3.9 to 8 kg and have a body length of 42-60 cm, from the top of the head to the base of the tail. Adult females weigh from 3.4 to 5.3 kg and a size of 30-49 cm.
Vervetki lead a daily and flocking lifestyle, in groups of up to 72 individuals. There is a clear hierarchy of dominance and submission among individuals in the pack.
These monkeys make specialized sounds to warn of different types of predators. They use different signals when spotting a leopard, snake or eagle. These sound signals are regarded by a number of ethologists as a kind of protolanguage. Judging by observations, young vervetas have an innate predisposition to give such alarm signs, and adult monkeys seem to give her positive reinforcement if the baby correctly reproduces the sound by repeating their cries. Mothers, according to ethologists, were punished by issuing an erroneous signal.
In the diet of vervetki - a wide variety of fruits, figs, leaves, seeds and flowers. They also eat bird eggs and young chicks, insects (locusts and termites). In the human environment, they are ready to eat bread and various crops, especially corn.
Mulbrook
Malbrouck
(Chlorocebus cynosuros)
These monkeys are distributed from the southern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo south to northern Namibia and Zambia. In the west, the range is limited to the right bank of the Luangwa River. It lives in savannas, marshy and mountain forests at an altitude of up to 4500 m above sea level.
Mulbrook leads a daytime lifestyle. It is kept in herds from 6 to 50 individuals. Each herd has its own territory, the size of which depends on the amount of food. Mulbrooks have a wide range of gestures and sounds that are used to communicate between group members.
Monkey diana
Diana monkey
(Cercopithecus diana)
Distributed in West Africa, along the Atlantic coast from Sierra Leone to Côte d'Ivoire. It inhabits primary tropical and gallery forests.
The body length of the diana ranges from 40 to 55 cm in length, the tail has a length of up to 70 cm and a diameter of 3-4 cm. Adults weigh 4-7 kg. The coat is black or dark gray; the beard, neck, chest, and stripes on the hips are white or light yellow. The inner thigh and sacrum are orange or brown.
Lead daytime woody lifestyle. Diana feeds mainly on fruits and insects, and also includes flowers, young leaves, and invertebrates. Natural enemies are the crowned eagle and leopard. They can also become victims of chimpanzees. Monkeys in alarm emit alarming cries. When the leopard approaches, they distinguish some warning sounds, and when the crowned eagle approaches, they distinguish others.
They live in groups of one adult male leader, his harem and cubs. Reaching puberty (at 3 years), males leave the group, females remain. Pregnancy lasts 5 months, life expectancy is up to 20 years.
Monkey Roloveya
Roloway Monkey
(Cercopithecus roloway)
Distributed in West Africa, its range is located between the rivers Sassandra (Cote d "Ivoire) and Pra (Ghana).
In appearance and size, it is very similar to a monkey Diana, but has a longer beard.
Leads a tree lifestyle. It is held in groups of 15-30 individuals. The diet includes various fruits, flowers, seeds and insects.
Great White Monkey
Greater Spot-nosed Monkey
(Cercopithecus nictitans)
It is distributed by two scattered locations: the first is in Liberia and the western part of Côte d'Ivoire, the second is from southern Nigeria to the southeast to the Congo River. It is also found on the island of Bioko. It lives in mountain and low-lying tropical, gallery and mangrove forests.
Body weight is 4.2-6.6 kg, males are larger than females.
He leads a tree lifestyle, only in very rare cases, descends to the ground. These monkeys are held in groups consisting of one adult male, several females and their offspring. Communication between group members occurs with the help of sound signals.
Little White Monkey
Lesser spot-nosed monkey
(Cercopithecus petaurista)
Distributed along the coast of West Africa: from Guinea-Bissau in the southeast to Togo. A separate population lives in southeastern Senegal. He prefers to settle in the dense foliage of rainforests and gallery forests along rivers.
The mass of adult males is 4-8 kg, females - 4-5 kg. It has cheek pouches in which it carries food.
These monkeys lead a daily arboreal lifestyle. They feed on fruits, as well as leaves, insects and plant shoots. They live in large groups of 15-20 individuals in a certain territory. The family consists of a male, several females and their offspring.
Blue monkey
Blue monkey
(Cercopithecus mitis)
Distributed only in Western Angola. It lives in evergreen tropical forests, preferring moist shaded areas near large bodies of water. It is held at an altitude of 3800 m above sea level.
Blue monkeys are small primates weighing 4-8 kg. The face is naked, usually dark in color, sometimes blue, the body has well-developed muscles. These monkeys are also called crowned because of the white strip of white fur that grows above the eyebrows and is directed forward. White whiskers are well developed in males. The body length from the head to the base of the tail is 50-65 cm. The males are larger than the females, and their fangs are slightly larger. The general color is gray, the limbs are darker. In young, reddish-brown indistinct spots are visible, which do not happen in adults.
It leads a tree lifestyle, although occasionally it descends to the ground. He prefers to settle on tall trees, which serve as a shelter and food source. These monkeys live in family groups of 10 to 40 individuals. Such a group consists of one male, several females and their offspring. Males, upon reaching puberty, leave the group.
The female usually gives birth once every two years, during the onset of the rainy season. Pregnancy lasts about 5 months. A baby is born covered in fur and with open eyes. The lactation period lasts about 6 months. Puberty occurs at the age of about 3 years.
Golden monkey
Golden monkey
(Cercopithecus kandti)
Distributed in Central Africa: in Southwest Uganda, Northwest Rwanda and the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Inhabits alpine bamboo forests.
Previously, this monkey was considered a subspecies of the blue monkey. In contrast, it has a bright orange coat on the back and sides of the body.
The main food is bamboo leaves and shoots, but often eats fruits, flowers and various invertebrates. He leads a day lifestyle, and arranges a shelter for himself from woven branches of bamboo for the night. These monkeys are held in groups of 4 to 62 individuals. Spend the night in small subgroups consisting of 4 individuals.
Doggett Blue Monkey
Doggett "s Blue Monkey
(Cercopithecus doggetti)
Distributed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda.
Previously considered a subspecies of the blue monkey.
Monkey Sykes
Sykes' s Monkey
(Cercopithecus albogularis)
Distributed in northeastern Tanzania and on the island of Zanzibar.
Previously considered a subspecies of the blue monkey. The coat has a gray color, tail and legs are blackish. A distinctive feature is a collar of white hair in the throat and neck. White is also the chin. Body weight is about 9 kg.
Monkey Monkey
Mona monkey
(Cercopithecus mona)
Distributed in West Africa: from Southwest Ghana to the east to East Cameroon, also found on the island of Sao Tome. It was introduced to some islands of the Caribbean: Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis. Inhabits primary and secondary tropical forests; found in mangrove swamps, gallery forests, and even along the edges of forests.
Mona Monkeys are thin, graceful monkeys with long arms and legs. The body length of an adult male is 41-63 cm, females - 37-45 cm, tail length for males - 64-88 cm, for females - 53-65 cm, body weight - 2.4-5.3 kg. The tail, like all other monkeys, is long, straight and inflexible, serves as a balancer when jumping in trees. Monkeys cannot clasp a branch with a tail and hang on it.
Most of their time, like a tree species, they spend in the upper tier of the crowns of the rainforest, while they everywhere prefer to live on the tops of trees, but often they can be seen feeding in the middle and lower tiers of the tree crowns. Mona Monkey is a herbivorous and insectivorous species, the basis of its nutrition is a variety of fruits and young juicy shoots, nuts, seeds; if possible, monkeys eat all kinds of insects, wild honey, bird eggs, snails and other animals. Moreover, the proportion of insects in their diet is greater than that of other species of monkeys. They have cheek pouches in which they can carry food collected during feeding.
Mona Monkey - daytime and very mobile primates, they are also good swimmers; using their tails as a rudder. Monkeys are mostly active in the early morning or late afternoon. Traveling their airways in the crowns of trees very quickly, using the tail for balance. They run through the tree branches, and reaching the thin end of the branch, they jump to another tree. Land safely on all four limbs in a vertical position. However, it is known that sometimes monkeys do not jump quite successfully, falling to the ground or into the water. This usually doesn’t seriously harm them - they immediately climb onto the nearest tree in order to join their group again.
Mona monkeys live in groups of 8-35, sometimes up to 50 individuals (an average of 12). Such a social group usually consists of sexually mature females, their offspring and only one sexually mature male. The area occupied by a social group is usually about 5-50 acres. But, if the group lives in favorable conditions where there is a large and sufficient amount of food, it is possible to combine several groups and live together in the large detachment of several adult males. Large groups of monkeys are usually only temporary, which provide mutual benefits by observing all its members for predators and other dangers. The existence of groups consisting entirely of males is known, although usually they are small and include only a few individuals (usually 2-4 males).
Females, like most representatives of the genus of monkeys, after entering estrus, show the male their readiness for mating, showing their anal-genital area. Almost always, the female initiates the beginning of the marriage. Young people are born after 5.5-6 months of pregnancy at any time of the year. The birth of one cub (rarely two) usually occurs at two-year intervals and is observed at night on a tree where the monkeys are sleeping. Cubs feed on mother’s milk for about 12 months, after which they completely switch to solid food. Maturity in males occurs at the age of 4-6 years; in females - 3-5 years. In captivity, Mona's monkeys live up to 22-26 years.
Mona Campbell's Monkey
Campbell's Mona Monkey
(Cercopithecus campbelli)
Distributed along the west coast of Africa: from the Gambia and Senegal to Ghana.
They feed on fruits, leaves and gummies. In the forest they move on four legs.
These monkeys live in groups of 8 to 12 individuals. The herd is divided into two subgroups: in one female with cubs, in the other - males. They are aggressive towards violators of the boundaries of their site. The female is born one cub. The newborn is nursed by all the females of the group.
Among the communicative cries can be noted soft high-frequency exclamations by which young members of the herd attract the attention of adults. The grimacing testifies to the threat, the eyes are fixed on one point, the eyebrows are raised, the ears are laid back, the skin on the face is stretched. To express the threat, the monkey opens its mouth, while the teeth are clenched and the head sways. Monkeys greet each other, rubbing their faces. This precedes a game or grooming.
Monkey Low Monkey
Lowe's Mona Monkey
(Cercopithecus lowei)
Distributed in West Africa: from Côte d'Ivoire (Tai Forest) to Ghana.
It was previously considered a subspecies of Monkey Campbell's monkey (Cercopithecus campbelli).
Monkey's crested monkey
Crested mona monkey
(Cercopithecus pogonias)
Distributed in West Africa: in the territory between the Kros and Niger rivers. Also found on Bioko Island. Prefers to settle in the upper tier of rainforests.
The male weighs about 4.5 kg, the female - 3 kg.
Fruits and seeds prevail in the monkey's diet, the stock of which it carries in the cheekbags. Invertebrates and young shoots supplement the diet.
They are held in groups of 13-18 individuals, headed by a dominant male, who is the father of the offspring of all females. Mature males often enter into fights with a leader; in case of defeat, they leave the herd. The monkey’s screams are thin, piercing, the buccal sacs reinforce the sound, this allows the monkeys to talk at fairly large distances.
Mona Wolf Wolf
Wolf's Mona Monkey
(Cercopithecus wolfi)
Distributed in the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo: between the rivers Congo and Sankuru. Inhabits tropical wetland forests.
The males of these monkeys are almost twice as large as the females (4.5 kg and 2.5 kg, respectively).
It feeds mainly on fruits, although it often eats insects, seeds and shoots of various plants. They themselves often fall prey to leopards and crowned eagles.
Live in groups consisting of a dominant male and several females. Each group has its own territory. There are often territorial conflicts between groups. The breeding period of these monkeys lasts from June to December. The female brings only one cub.
Mona Mona Denta
Dent's Mona Monkey
(Cercopithecus denti)
Distributed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Congo, Rwanda, Western Uganda and the Central African Republic.
Previously considered a subspecies of Monkey Wolf (Cercopithecus wolfi).
Red-bellied Monkey
Red-bellied guenon
(Cercopithecus erythrogaster)
Distributed in West Africa: in the south of Togo, Benin and Nigeria. Inhabits rainforests.
The mass of adult males is 3.5-4.5 kg, females - 2-4 kg.
These monkeys usually hold in small groups of 4-5 individuals, but there have been cases when they gathered in groups of up to 30 individuals. Sometimes there are single males.
Scatter Monkey
Sclater's Guenon
(Cercopithecus sclateri)
Distributed in southern Nigeria, in a limited area between the Niger and Cross rivers. The area of \u200b\u200bthe range is estimated at approximately 29,000 km 2. It inhabits impenetrable swampy and coastal forests.
Adult females have an average body weight of about 2.5-3.5 kg, and the body weight of adult males is about 3-4.5 kg.
The Scatter Monkey is a social animal living in mixed groups. Typically, the average group size is about 7 individuals. Although the size of the group can reach from 15 to 30 individuals. There is no pronounced breeding season. Females, after entering estrus, demonstrate to the male their readiness for mating. It is the female who always acts as the initiator of the beginning of the marriage. During mating, the female shows a special facial expression, protruding the lower lip forward and constantly looking over the shoulder at the male. The female gives birth to one dntngysh. Life expectancy is about 20-25 years.
Tracheal monkey
Red-eared guenon
(Cercopithecus erythrotis)
Distributed in southeast Nigeria and southwest Cameroon. It is also found on the island of Bioko. Inhabits flat and foothill tropical forests.
Ruby-eared monkey belongs to the smallest monkeys. It can be easily identified by the following signs: a bright red-brick nose, red-furry ears, a long red-brick tail.
Leads a tree lifestyle. It is held in groups of 4 to 30 individuals. In the forest does not betray his presence, screams are quiet, like bird trills.
Whiskered Monkey
Mustached guenon
(Cercopithecus cephus)
Distributed from southern Cameroon and the Central African Republic south to the mouth of the Congo River. It inhabits both rain and secondary forests, as well as gallery forests along river banks.
The body length is 48-56 cm, and the tail is much longer. The mass of an adult male is about 4.3 kg, and that of a female is 2.9 kg.
Red-tailed monkey
Red-tailed monkey
(Cercopithecus ascanius)
It is widespread in Central Africa: from the basin of the Congo and Ubanga rivers to the east to Kenya (rift valley), Uganda and Western Tanzania. It inhabits lowland rainforests, gallery and coastal swamp forests, arid acacia forest stands, mountain forests, occupying a wide variety of habitats.
The hallmarks of adult red-tailed monkeys include a black face, bluish skin around the eyes, a light spot on the nose, and white fur on their cheeks. Depending on the subspecies, the color of their nose changes from white or yellow to almost black. The common name "Red-Tailed" is given due to the color of the hair at the end of the tail, varying from reddish to chestnut brown. The body length in males is 40-63 cm, in females 32-46 cm, host length in males 62-89 cm, in females 53-78 cm; weight ranges from 2 to 6 kg.
Red-tailed monkeys are diurnal, arboreal primates, very nimble and active. Their main hours of activity are early morning and late evening. On the day, a group of monkeys looking for food runs about 1.4 km. They live in groups of 7-35 individuals, usually it consists of one male and several females. The size of the territory occupied by one group is about 120 hectares, which they protect from the invasion of strangers. In places full of food, several groups of monkeys can gather together, and on large trees they can be together during periods of rest. Like all primates, communication in this species is complex, and includes chemical or olfactory, visual, vocal, tactile components.
Red-tailed monkeys are usually found in society with other species of primates, such as red colobus, mangobey and blue monkeys. For example, colobus can bite through the hard outer shell of the fruit and the red-tailed monkey can then eat fruit residues that contain fruit pulp usually inaccessible to them. The basis of the diet of these monkeys includes fruits, but they constantly replenish their diet with plant young shoots, flowers, buds, gum secretions and insects. The red-tailed monkey has cheek pouches to hold food there, which allows you to keep your hands free during their travels.
Red-tailed monkeys were also observed in joint interspecific social contacts: games, mutual care and assistance in protecting against common predators. The red-tailed monkey can even mate with blue monkeys, and at the same time they produce fertile offspring.
Breeding takes place all year, although the peak breeding season is from November to February, and the birth of cubs is from April to November. It is likely that females are capable of giving birth to young people every year. They demonstrate an illegible mating system in which one male mates with all the females of the group. Typically, a female who is in an estrus state demonstrates her susceptibility and willingness to mate through demonstrative behavior, known as performance. The average duration of pregnancy is about 6 months, after which one baby is born. Newborn babies usually weigh about 400 g, they have light gray fur and are constantly on the mother, firmly clinging with all four limbs to the wool on her belly. It is the mother's responsibility to transport, protect, and eat. During the first few weeks of life, the female carries the baby all the time. Other single females from the same social group also try to take care of the baby and sometimes conflicts arise between them.
The rank of the female in the group usually has a decisive influence on the social status of her mature daughters, remaining after maturity in the group. The males, upon reaching sexual maturity, leave the group forming a separate company, trying over time to replace the dominant males in the groups of females. After the dominant male is displaced, the new leader tries to kill all young animals existing in the group, thus encouraging nursing females to enter the estrous period and give birth to his own descendants. Males usually reach sexual maturity at the age of six; females participate in breeding as early as four or five years of age.
Natural enemies are large birds of prey, wild cats (especially leopards), sometimes they become victims of chimpanzees or large snakes. And although there is no exact data on the lifespan of this species in nature, it is known that in captivity they can live up to 22 years, according to other researchers - up to 30 years. Obviously, life expectancy in nature is somewhat shorter.
Bearded Monkey
L "Hoest" s Monkey
(Cercopithecus lhoesti)
Distributed in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in southwestern Uganda, in Rwanda and Burundi. It inhabits swampy, mountain and rain forests up to 1000 m above sea level and up to 2500 m. Also, these monkeys were found in isolated areas of forest vegetation among mountain meadows. A bearded monkey prefers a mature, moist and tall primary forest; meeting however in gallery and secondary, with dense undergrowth of forests.
Body length is 46-56 cm, tail length is 42-68 cm. Males weigh about 6 kg on average, while females weigh about 3.5 kg. The tail is long and slightly hooked at the end. There are cheek pouches used by animals to transport their food.
The basis of the diet is a mixed diet, which includes fruits, shoots, seeds, roots and juicy rhizomes, eggs, insects, small lizards and even birds. Fruits usually make up about 47% of their diet, 23% - terrestrial grass vegetation, other food - 30%.
Bearded monkeys are arboreal and diurnal animals. They sleep in the trees, taking a sitting position, holding on to branches or for each other. Maximum activity time: early morning. Closer to noon, after morning feeding and in the hottest time of the day, they take refuge in the crowns of trees. These mostly terrestrial animals get their livelihood mainly on the surface of the earth. However, they try to hide from most types of danger among dense vegetation in the crowns of trees. Young bearded monkeys have grabbing tails that are strong enough to support their weight: this feature is exceptional for Old World monkeys. They lose this ability when they grow up, and then the monkeys use their tails only for balance during movement and jumping.
Hold in groups. Family groups include from 5 to 25 individuals, in which females prevail. The composition of a typical family group is one male, several sexually mature females and their offspring. Bearded monkeys rarely form associations with other varieties of primates, preferring to live with individuals of their own species.
After entering estrus, the female informs the male about her readiness for mating with a special demonstration pose. After that, the male sniffs the female and then mating occurs: the gestation period is about 5 months. The birth of cubs most often occurs at the end of the dry season, when heavy rains begin, which is favorable for lactation. The female, usually at night, gives birth to one cub. The mother immediately after giving birth eats the placenta and carefully licks the baby, which is firmly attached to the mother's hair on her stomach. Other females from the group of women in labor show great interest and try to support newborns. Over time, female care becomes less frequent after the first few months, but continues until the next birth occurs, usually after 2 years. Young immature males leave the group when they reach sexual maturity, females remain in the maternal group forever. Maturation occurs after reaching two years of age in females, in the male somewhat later. In captivity, animals survived to almost 30 years. In nature, life expectancy does not seem to exceed 20 years.
Monkey Preuss
Preuss' s Monkey
(Cercopithecus preussi)
Distributed in Western Cameroon, Eastern Nigeria and on the island of Bioko (Equatorial Guinea). It inhabits mountain and foothill forests at an altitude of 2500 m above sea level.
These monkeys are dark gray with white fur on their chins. Body weight up to 10 kg.
It feeds mainly on fruits, sometimes eats leaves and various insects. They are kept in groups consisting of an adult male, several females and their offspring. This group has an average of 17 individuals. Females bring one cub every three years. Puberty occurs at 4 years, life expectancy up to 31 years.
Yellow-tailed monkey
Sun-tailed monkey
(Cercopithecus solatus)
Distributed in the central part of Gabon, the total area of \u200b\u200bits habitat is 11000-12000 km 2.
The body length of the male is 60-70 cm, with a tail length of 65-76 cm; the body length of the female is 50-55 cm, with a tail length of 60-67 cm. The body weight of males is 6–9 kg, and of females is 4–6 kg.
These monkeys conduct a predominantly arboreal lifestyle. Being in the crowns of trees, the upper part of the forest canopy is usually avoided, where they can be attacked by a venerable eagle - a specialized forest predator, which preyed by monkeys. On the ground, yellow-tailed monkeys move mainly on four limbs, although they also use bipedal walking when moving on the ground among dense thickets of grass to be able to look around and avoid any potential land predators.
It feeds mainly on fruits. Special observations showed that the group of monkeys living at the edge of the forest includes green beans, juice and gum from ebony trees, papaya fruits, and the products of other exotic trees bred by farmers near the edge of the forest zone. There are many dangers for such yellow-tailed monkeys, so only adult animals participate in risky food production enterprises outside the forest, while young monkeys act as “sentinels”, being within the forest canopy and observing what is happening from a safe place and distance . In case of detection of any danger, uncertain noise or any movement, the “participants” of the raid quickly retreat back into the forest.
The yellow-tailed monkey is especially careful in choosing a place to sleep. Often they occupy the upper, most dense part of the crown, located on thick branches near the trunk or in a fork in the branches. Often they repeatedly use the same comfortable and safe place for sleep. When the monkey worries something from above, they quickly go down and remain motionless, hiding under the dense "roof" of vegetation, where feathered predators are no longer afraid of them. Terrestrial predators, such as leopards, have disappeared in the habitats of yellow-tailed monkeys more than ten years ago.
Monkeys become independent at about the age of about 18 months. Sexually mature - after reaching the age of three, and they bring their first offspring at the age of about 4 years.
Owl-faced monkey
Hamlyn "s Monkey
(Cercopithecus hamlyni)
Distributed on the African continent, where it lives in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, northwestern Rwanda and the extreme southwest of Uganda in Burundi. The main habitat is dense tropical forest. These monkeys are kept in forests located at least 900 m above sea level and rising to a height of up to 3200 m above sea level. They live in a rainforest area surrounded by natural borders. Lakes and river systems, edges of tropical forests and a number of volcanoes clearly define the boundaries of their habitats and the range as a whole.
Owl-faced monkey - a medium-sized monkey, has a relatively short gray tail, with a black tuft at the end. The face resembles an owl, with two large eyes. The average body length of an adult male is 50-65 cm, females - 40-55 cm. The weight of sexually mature monkeys ranges from 4 to 10 kg (adult males weigh 7-10 kg, females - 4.5-6 kg). The face is black with reddish highlights, has a horizontal strip running through the eyebrows and a vertical strip from the center of the eyebrows to the labial region. These two stripes vary in color from yellow-cream to almost white and form a characteristic tattoo marking on the faces of these monkeys. The whole head is surrounded by a thick mass of dark greenish fur that completely covers the ears. The fur is long, dense. The coat of adult animals is olive gray or almost black. The darkest almost black coat runs along the abdomen and lower side of the hind limbs and arms. Their almost monotonous protective color coat allows them to disguise themselves well from predators.
In the way of life, the owl-faced monkey is a daytime and a tree monkey. Moves through the forest using all four limbs. In search of suitable feeds, she is forced to examine large areas daily. During feeding, part of the food is placed in cheek pouches. This frees up your hands, which makes it easier to move around the trees and at the same time allows you to eat the extracted feed in a more relaxed atmosphere.
Owl-faced monkey is predominantly a fruit-eating primate, it prefers fruits and flowers (50-60%), but eats both leaves (20-25%) and invertebrates (10-20%). She searches for insects (caterpillars, ants) and spiders slowly and leisurely, looking under the lagged bark and lichens.
Lives in social groups consisting of several females with their immature offspring and one male. As a rule, the number of members in a group does not exceed 10 individuals. Sometimes, individual groups come together in large groups that may contain several sexually mature males. However, at night the monkeys sleep together in small family groups. The group adheres to its forage territory, which is marked using breast odorous glands. Usually one male accompanies the group and often, after 1-2 years, he is replaced by one of the solitary males who constantly circle around such family groups. As a rule, females expel other females from their territory, while males focus on the removal of other males from sexually mature females.
The breeding season is dated to May-October, one cub is born. The female has a two-year break between births.
Lesula
Lesula
(Cercopithecus lomamiensis)
Distributed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where it occurs between the Lom and Chuap rivers in the central part of the country. For the first time, scientists discovered this monkey in 2007 in the house of a local school teacher and described it in 2012. For locals, Cercopithecus lomamiensis has long been known under the name Lesula.
The length of the head and body of adult males is 47-65 cm, weight - 4-7.1 kg; young females - 40-42 cm, weight - 3.5-4 kg.
They feed mainly on fruits and other parts of plants, live in small groups of 2-5 individuals. Found in equatorial rainforests with a predominance of trees Gilbertiodendron dewevrei (Detarievye, Bean family).
Monkey De Brass
De Brazza's Monkey
(Cercopithecus neglectus)
Distributed from North Angola, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon to the west to Uganda, Kenya and Southeast Ethiopia. Found in the upper tiers of the rainforest, but can inhabit bushes, bamboo groves and low trees in marshy forests along rivers, as well as arid mountain forests.
This is a marmoset of medium size, the length of the head and body of females is 39-54 cm, males are 48-59 cm. The length of the tail for females is 47-57 cm, males are 59-78 cm. Weight of the female: 4.4 kg, male 8 kg . The coat color is gray with a reddish-brown back, black limbs and a white crown. On the muzzle there is a white beard, a brown or orange spot all over the forehead with a black stripe on the eyebrow line, white eyelids. In males, the skin on the cheeks around the nose is blue. Both males and females have cheek pouches for carrying food.
Monkeys live in monogamous families or families consisting of an adult male, three adult females and their offspring. The groups living in the neighborhood can feed together, however, at bedtime they diverge in their lairs. The family territory is 6-13 hectares. Monkeys are active during the day, spend most of the time on trees, move on four limbs. During a threat they prefer to hide rather than fight. They feed on young foliage and fruits, as well as flowers, insects, bird eggs and small vertebrates.
This is a silent monkey, screaming rarely. She uses rich facial expressions for communication, especially expressive grimaces. Monkeys of this species recognize each other at a great distance, even in a dark forest.
Pregnancy lasts 5-6 months, or 168 days, usually 1 baby is born. It reaches puberty at the age of 3-5 years. Life expectancy is 22-30 years.
The genus Monkey (Cercopithecus) also includes the monkey Dryas (Cercopithecus dryas), which is found only in the Congo basin, on the left bank. Previously considered a subspecies of the Diana monkey.
Angolan Dwarf Monkey
Angolan talapoin
(Miopithecus talapoin)
Distributed from the Atlantic coast of North Angola to the east to the western part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In the north, the range is limited to the southern bank of the Congo River. Inhabits forests along river banks.
These are the smallest monkeys of the Old World. The body weight of males is about 1250 g, of females is 760 g. The length of the head and body is 32-45 cm, with a tail length of 36-52 cm. The color of the coat is greenish, paler on the chest, abdomen and inner parts of the body, the tail on the tip is black , ears and skin around eyes almost black, buccal tufts yellow. Their muzzle is greatly reduced compared to the large skull. A brush with short fingers between which there are small skin membranes.
Leads a daily tree lifestyle. The basis of the diet includes fruits, but sometimes eats seeds, young foliage and various invertebrates.
Gabon Dwarf Monkey
Gabon Talapoin
(Miopithecus ogouensis)
Distributed in Central and South Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Western and Southern Congo. It inhabits the equatorial forests along the river banks.
Unlike the Angolan dwarf monkey, the ears and skin around the eyes are flesh-colored.
