De Brazza's monkey

De Brazza's monkey[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Mammalia
Order:Primates
Suborder:Haplorhini
Infraorder:Simiiformes
Family:Cercopithecidae
Genus:Cercopithecus
Species: C. neglectus
Binomial name
Cercopithecus neglectus
Schlegel, 1876
Geographic range

The De Brazza's monkey (Cercopithecus neglectus) is an Old World monkey endemic to the wetlands of central Africa. It is one of the most widespread African primates that live in forests.[2]

Etymology

Locally known as swamp monkeys,[3] these primates are named after the Italian-French explorer Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza.

Description

This guenon has grey agouti fur with a reddish-brown back, black limbs and tail and a white rump. A white stripe runs down its thigh, and an orange crescent-shaped marking appears on its forehead. Its white eyelids match its muzzle and beard. Both sexes have cheek pouches in which to carry food while they forage, and males have a blue scrotum.

De Brazza's monkey is a sexually dimorphic species; males weigh around 7 kilograms, while females weigh around 4 kilograms.[4]

Distribution and habitat

De Brazza's monkey ranges across the swamps, bamboo and dry mountain forests of Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Saiwa Swamp and the Cherangani Hills in Kenya, South Sudan, Nigeria and Uganda. They are mainly arboreal.[2][5]

Behavior

Mother with young

The lifespan of the De Brazza's monkey in the wild is about 22 years, but it is thought to correspond similarly to other members of Cercopithecus which live up to 30 years in captivity. It is a shy, territorial monkey that lives in small social groups. De Brazza Monkeys live in groups varying from 5 to 30. At the head of each social group is the strongest male, whose job is to protect his fellow group members.[4]

De Brazza's monkey communicates with booming sounds, shaking tree branches, and a variety of facial expressions and movements (e.g. shaking its head when stressed out, or nodding with approval).[4]

Predators of the De Brazza's monkey include the leopard, humans, and common chimpanzees.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Groves, C.P. (2005). Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M., eds. Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 157. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. OCLC 62265494.
  2. 1 2 3 Struhsaker, S.; Oates, J. F.; Hart, J. & Butynski, T. M. (2008). "Cercopithecus neglectus". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2008: e.T4223A10680717. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T4223A10680717.en. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  3. ↑ Eng, Curtis (March–April 1998). "AZA Species Survival Plan Profile: De Brazza's Monkey". Endangered Species UPDATE. School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan: 25–26. Retrieved 2012-05-02.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Stein, J. (2002). "Cercopithecus neglectus". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 2012-04-30.
  5. ↑ Karere G. Mugambi, Mbaruk A. Suleman & Wilbur Ottichilo; Thomas M. Butynski. "The vanishing De Brazza's monkey (Cercopithecus neglectus Schlegel) in Kenya". International Journal of Primatology. 18: 995–1004. doi:10.1023/A:1026352331577. Retrieved 2008-03-18.
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