White eyelid mangaben
| White eyelid mangaben | ||||||||||||
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Soot specification ( Cercocebus atys ) |
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Cercocebus | ||||||||||||
| E. Geoffroy , 1812 |
The Weißlid-Mangaben are a group of primates living in Africa that belong to the family of the vervet monkeys (Cercopithecidae). The genus comprises seven species.
description
White-eyed mangabies are similar to vervet monkeys , but are taller and slimmer than them. They also have a longer snout and a more oval head. Their fur color varies from gray to brown and is patterned differently depending on the species. Males have a throat pouch that allows them to make loud screams. The animals reach a head body length of 40 to 88 cm, a tail about the same length, and a weight of 5 to 14 kg.
distribution and habitat
White-eyed Mangebs live in western and central Africa, their range extends from Senegal to Kenya and south to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and southern Tanzania . They are predominantly forest dwellers, their habitat is variable and, in addition to tropical rainforests, can also include mangrove swamps , higher-lying, dry forests and plantations.
Way of life
These animals are diurnal and mainly stay on the ground, also while foraging.
They are diurnal and live together in groups of 10 to 30 animals. The groups consist of one to three males, a number of females and their offspring. Postures play a major role within the group, for example presenting the anus area with the tail raised and bent forward. They are territorial animals that make other groups aware of their own territory with loud shouts.
food
White-eyed mangabies are primarily herbivores that occasionally eat insects. They feed mainly on fruits, nuts, seeds and mushrooms.
Reproduction
Little is known about the reproduction of the animals. The gestation period is around 170 days and in most cases a single young is born. Young animals reach sexual maturity at the age of 5 to 7 years. Life expectancy is up to 30 years in human care.
threat
Since white-eyed mangabies have a relatively large range and are more flexible in terms of their habitat, they are less threatened than other primate species. Since they often stay in plantations, they are hunted, and there is also the loss of habitat due to the conversion of forests into arable and pasture land. However, three species with a small distribution area are endangered species.
Systematics and types
There are seven types:
- The collar indication , also known as the red head or red head indication ( Cercocebus torquatus ), is the best known species. Its range extends from Nigeria to Gabon.
- The olivm indication ( C. agilis ) is characterized by its gray-green fur. This species lives in central Africa from Cameroon to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- The soot specification ( C. atys ) is common in western Africa from Senegal to western Ivory Coast.
- The Tana Mangabe ( C. galeritus ) lives exclusively in a small area on the Tana River in Kenya and is considered to be critically endangered.
- The gold belly indication ( C. chrysogaster ) is endemic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- The white-necked indication ( C. lunulatus ) occurs in the Ivory Coast and western Ghana. It is considered to be critically endangered.
- The Sanje-Mangabe ( C. sanjei ) only inhabits the Udzungwa Mountains in southern Tanzania and is considered to be endangered.
According to current knowledge, the Schwarzm indications ( Lophocebus ) only superficially resemble the Weißlid Mangaben, but are not closely related, so that the " Mangaben " do not represent a systematic group.
literature
- Thomas Geissmann: Comparative Primatology . Springer, Berlin 2003, ISBN 3-540-43645-6 .
- Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World . 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore 1999, ISBN 0-8018-5789-9 (English).
- Jonathan Kingdon: The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals. A&C Black Publishers, London 1997 [2007], ISBN 978-0-7136-6513-0 .
