Guenon Monkey
(Genus Cercopithecus)
Guenon
Description:
The Guenon is an 'Old World monkey' native to Africa.
It has a round head and a beard, with whiskers at the side
of the face. Body composition is slender, with long
hind legs and a long tail. Some species also have colourful
coats. There are 7 sub-species:
- Mona Monkey (C.mona)
- Putty Nose Guenon (C.nictitans)
- White Throated/Red bellied Guenon (C.erythrogaster)
- Red Eared Guenon (C.erythrotis)
- Sclaters Guenon (C.sclateri)
- Crowned Guenon (C.pogonias)
- C.nictitans martini
CITES Classification of the Guenon:
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Species range from lower risk to vulnerable
Guenon Habitat:
Forests, woodlands, savannahs and mangrove forests.
- Mona Monkey - Eastern Ghana to Western Cameroon
- Putty Nose Guenon - Guinea to Congo and Zaire, north
of the Congo River
- White Throated/Red Bellied - Eastern Benin, Western
Nigeria
- Red Eared - SE Nigeria, SW Cameroon, Bioko
- Sclaters Guenon - SE Nigeria between Niger and Cross
Rivers
- Crowned Guenon - SE Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea,
Gabon to NW Zaire
- C.nictitans martini - Southern Nigeria to Cameroon
Guenon Social Structure:
Troop size varies between species and ranges from 5-200. Different
species will often associate together. The hierarchy system
is not as organised as other primate species and although
there is a dominant male he serves more for protection. The
troops are territorial but avoid conflict.
Guenon Communication:
Vary significantly between species. They display a variety
of alarm and contact calls which sound like bird chirps and
whistles.
Guenon Life Cycle:
Some species breed throughout the year, others at the end
of the dry season so that when they are lactating there is
plenty of rainfall and food. Gestation is 6 months generally
to a single infant. Life span has been recorded in captivity
up to 33 years.
Guenon Diet:
Fruit, leaves, flowers, buds, nuts, seeds and insects.
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by the IUCN.
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