Diademed monkey

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Diademed monkey
Diademed monkey (Cercopithecus mitis stuhlmanni) in the Kakamega Forest National Reserve in western Kenya.

Diademed monkey ( Cercopithecus mitis stuhlmanni ) in the Kakamega Forest National Reserve in western Kenya.

Systematics
Superfamily : Tailed Old World Monkey (Cercopithecoidea)
Family : Vervet monkey relatives (Cercopithecidae)
Subfamily : Cheekbones monkey (Cercopithecinae)
Tribe : Vervet monkeys (Cercopithecini)
Genre : Vervet Monkeys ( Cercopithecus )
Type : Diademed monkey
Scientific name
Cercopithecus mitis
Wolf , 1822

The diadem monkey ( Cercopithecus mitis ) is a species of primate from the genus of the monkeys ( Cercopithecus ) within the family of the vervet monkeys (Cercopithecidae).

features

Diademed monkeys reach a body length of 46 to 71 centimeters (males) or 39 to 59 centimeters (females), a tail length of 60 to 95 centimeters (males) or 49 to 88 centimeters (females) and a weight of 5.9 to 9 Kilograms (males) and 2.7 to 5.5 kilograms (females) are therefore among the larger monkeys. As with all representatives of this genus, the males are larger and heavier than the females. The fur is colored blue-gray on the upper side, the underside is lighter, the limbs, the shoulder region and the tail are almost black. It is named after a row of white hairs protruding above the eyebrows.

distribution and habitat

Diadem monkeys, the eponymous "diadem" made of whitish hair above the eyes is clearly visible.

Diademed monkeys are native to central Africa . Its disjoint distribution area lies west of the Great Rift Valley and extends from Sudan and Ethiopia over the Congo Basin to northern Angola and northwestern Zambia . (To the east of the rift valley lies the distribution area of ​​the white-throated monkey , which was recently separated as a separate species.) They inhabit a number of habitats, but rely on trees and the proximity of water. At Mount Elgon in western Kenya, the subspecies C. m. elgonis up to an altitude of 3800 meters.

Way of life

Diademed monkeys are diurnal tree dwellers. They live in groups of 10 to 40 animals, which are composed of a male, a number of females and their offspring. The groups are territorial and defend their territory against other groups, whereby the females also participate in the dispute. However, they sometimes socialize with other species of vervet monkey, such as red-tailed monkeys .

food

The monkeys feed mainly on fruits , but also on seeds , leaves , flowers, other parts of plants, lichens and tree sap. They also supplement their diet with invertebrates , especially insects and other arthropods.

Reproduction

Mating can take place all year round. After a gestation period of around five months, the female usually gives birth to a single young. This is weaned at around six months and sexually mature at three years of age. The males have to leave their birth group at this point, the females usually stay there for life.

Distribution of the subspecies of the diademed monkey in Africa.
  • Cercopithecus mitis mitis (Angola)
  • C. m. boutourlinii
  • C. m. elgonis
  • C. m. heymansi
  • C. m. manyaraensis
  • C. m. opisthostictus
  • C. m. schoutedeni (Idjiwi & Shushu, Lake Kivu)
  • C. m. stuhlmanni
  • White-throated monkey , silver monkey , golden monkey
  • Systematics

    More recently, some populations of the diademed monkey have been separated and established as separate species, these are the silver monkey , the golden monkey and the white-throated monkey . All of these species, together with the great white-nosed monkey, form the mitis group within the genus of the monkeys . Eight subspecies are distinguished. The colors named after the distribution areas refer to the distribution map on the right.

    threat

    Diademed monkeys are sometimes persecuted because they devastate plantations, they are also hunted for their meat and they suffer from the destruction of their habitat. Overall, however, the species is not endangered according to the IUCN . For the subspecies C. m. schoutedeni was already feared of extinction because their home islands were deforested. In 2015, however, a remaining population of around 50 animals was rediscovered on the island of Idjwi.

    literature

    Individual evidence

    1. a b c d Elizabeth L. Gadsby, Colin P. Groves, Aoife Healy, K. Praveen Karanth, Sanjay Molur, Tilo Nadler, Matthew C. Richardson, Erin P. Riley, Anthony B. Rylands, Lori K. Sheeran, Nelson Ting, Janette Wallis, Siân S. Waters & Danielle J. Whittaker: Family Cercopithecidae (Old World Monkeys). Pages 693-694 in Russell A. Mittermeier , Anthony B. Rylands & Don E. Wilson : Handbook of the Mammals of the World: - Volume 3. Primates. Lynx Editions, 2013 ISBN 978-8496553897
    2. ^ A b Thomas M. Butynski & Yvonne A. de Jong: Taxonomy and Biogeography of the Gentle Monkey Cercopithecus mitis Wolf, 1822 (Primates: Cercopithecidae) in Kenya and Tanzania, and Designation of a New Subspecies Endemic to Tanzania. Primate Conservation 2020 (34), April 2020, PDF
    3. Cercopithecus mitis in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2006 Posted by: T. Butynski & Members of the Primate Specialist Group 2000, 2000. Retrieved on 12 May, 2006.
    4. Augustin K. Basabose: Potential suitable field station for long-term primate research and conservation activities on Idjwi Island, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo In: The 4th International Symposium on Primatology and Wildlife Science

    Web links

    Commons : Diademed Monkey ( Cercopithecus mitis )  - Collection of images, videos and audio files