Category: Primate family

Common Patas monkey

Common Patas Monkey

The common patas monkey (also known as the Wadi monkey or the Hussar monkey) is a ground dwelling monkey, which lives throuhg semi-arid areas of West Africa, and even into parts of east Africa. At one time, the east and west versions of this monkey were considered subspecies due to the different colour of the nose. However, the white nose was noticed to emerge during female pregnancy as well as over time as the animal got older.

It is found across Africa in a band, which petters out a few hundred miles from the East coast, merely reaching the western parts of Kenya and Tanzania. It has also been introduced to Peuto Rico. There is no overall estimate for its population, but it is high, and while as with other primates, it risks local extinction, it is not at risk of extinction at the moment.

It is thought that this monkeys relationship to the whistling thorn Acacia may have inspired Dr Seuss character the Lorax.

Blue Nile Patas Monkey

Blue Nile Patas Monkey

The Blue Nile patas monkey (also known as Heuglin’s patas monkey) was initially described in 1862 from a living species and a skin. It was initially a subspecies alongside the other Patas monkeys, In 2017 it was redefined as a separate species. In many ways, this is a good thing. While it is clear that these species are quite different, it is also likely to be easier to protect both species, now they are separate than it was while they were merely subspecies of each other.

It is restricted to the land between the Nile, and the great rift valley. Although it is currently only known from Ethiopia and Sudan, though it is thought that it may well also be found in the new country of South Sudan as well. Little museum species, and few records of the species in Ethiopia, which heavily suggests that it was never common in this country.

Recent moves to forcibly create villages, and the expansion of farms may well eradicate what little remains. Unfortunately, as much of its range is still so dangerous there is little studies done there, and as a result, this species is classified as data deficient.

Southern patas monkey

Southern Patas Monkey

This monkey is critically endangered and may be the monkey closest to extinction in Africa, with only 100-200 remaining in the wild, living in Kenya and Tanzania.

It was initially described as a species in 1905, but was then relisted as a sub-species of the common Patas monkey. It was once again made a separate species back in 2017. For a number of reasons, it has been suggested that it may represent an earlier Patas monkey which has been surplanted by the common Patas monkey across much of its former range.

Sun-tailed monkey

Sun-tailed Monkey

Only discovered as a species in 1988, it is still one of the least studied primates in its home habitat. Although preferring dense vegetation, they can tolerate surprisingly invaded areas, even with some logging. Only classed in CITES 2. While 10% of its range is in Lope national park, much of its current range is well outside protected areas of Gabon.

Much study is required in order to monitor this monkey more effectively, in order to work out how good its current status, and how to protect its future survival. This is also required in order to be able to start a significant tourism industry, however, as others we will add any tourism opportunities and these will appear below the news section that will sit below, as any are written.

Preuss’s monkey, Preuss’s guenon

Preuss Monkey

Once considered a subspecies of the LHoest monkey, it is a mountain dwelling monkey that lives in the forests of eastern Nigeria, western Cameroon and Bioko in Equatorial Guinea. 

While mostly eating fruit insects and leaves, it is known to raid human crops when given the chance.

As with many monkey species, this monkey is endangered as a result of hunting and habitat loss.

There are two subspecies of Preuss’s monkey:

  • Cameroon Preuss’s monkey, Cercopithecus preussi preussi
  • Bioko Preuss’s monkey, Cercopithecus preussi insularis

L’Hoest’s monkey (Mountain monkey)

L'hoests Monkeys

L’Hoest’s monkey also known as the mountain monkey, is a guenon found in the upper eastern Congo basin. They mostly live in mountainous forest areas in small, female-dominated groups. They have a dark coat and can be distinguished by a characteristic white beard.

It was Philip Sclater who originally gave the name Cercopithecus lhoesti so as to name the species after of Michel L’Hoest, director of the Antwerp Zoo, at the time.

L’Hoest’s monkey is currently classified as a member of the genus Allochrocebus. Formerly, L’Hoest’s monkey included the preussi as it was classed as a subspecies from the Gulf of Guinea region, but it is now considered a separate species.

L’Hoest’s monkey was formerly included in the genus Cercopithecus, but molecular studies in 2003 questioned whether L’Hoest’s monkey was a member of the genus Cercopithecus. The studies indicated that L’Hoest’s monkey (along with the others in its species group) is more closely related to the vervet monkeys of the genus Chlorocebus and the patas monkey (genus Erythrocebus) than to the other guenons of the genus Cercopithecus.

Gabon Talopoin

Gabon Talopoin

The Gabon Talopoin, also known as the Northern Talopoin, is a similar species to the Angolan Talopoin (which is known as the Southern Talopoin). Like the other Talopoin, this is an incredibly small monkey. It lives in Riparian habitat across Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the western Republic of the Congo and the far west Democratic republic of Congo

Gabon talapoin

Unlike the Angolan Talapoin, the Gabon Talopoin has more flesh coloured ears. It is currently considered near threatened, as their population is decreasing slowly, though there are still a large population of these primates.

 

Angolan Talopian

Angolan Talopian

The Angolan Talopian is also known as the Southern Talopian, it is the smallest member of the old world primate family. It is banded black and yellow on its side and grey or white on their stomach.

Found South of the Congo river, in the coastal watersheds of many of the rivers of the area (Mebridege, Loge, Cuanza, Nhia and Cuvo. They are found as far south as the coast of Angola.

One of the smallest monkeys of Africa, they have a head and body length of roughly 40cm with a tail length of around 50cm. Males weigh on average about 1.4kg.

It is limited to dense evergreen areas of vegetation on the banks of rivers that often flow throu Miombo woodland or when that is cleared areas which are now being cultivated.

In terms of their status, they are CITES apendix 2, which means that they are not currently endangered.

Below a list of any posts on this species, and the video, we will add any links which will help you see this species in the wild, as we get them. If you work in conservation or tourism where this species is, we would love to hear from you. We are keen to publish news from conservationists, and we are keen to list tourism opportunities. For both click on the 6th icon in at the top (our members area), and join us. Your destination will then appear at the bottom of this page for people to find you.

Allens swamp monkey

Allens swamp monkey

The Allens swamp monkey is found in the Congo basin in central Africa. They are concentrated in lowland forests of this region, including Cameroon, Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo – as the name suggests, they inhabit swampy forests.

Given where they choose to live, they are currently listed as least concern, however, the population is declining, as a result of a mixture of hunting for the bushmeat trade, and habitat loss. While it is also hunted by raptors, snakes and bonobos, this hunting relies on the availability of the monkey, which means that as populations decrease there is less hunting, unfortunately we humans have overcome this natural method to stop extinction.

Below is a list of articles on this site which have been published on this site, and below this is a camera trap video of this monkey in the wild. Below both of these, we will add any links to places where this species can be seen in the wild, which will help the survival of this species.

Gibbon – Silvery

Silvery gibbon

A wild silvery gibbon

Silvery gibbons are found in the island of Java. They are very endangered, and people in the country need increased reason to support their continued existence. It is true that in many places on earth where it is less of a struggle to survive and feed your family, protecting this primate would be of higher importance. We need to make this primates survival important for the people who live nearby, by giving a financial relevance. We can do this in 2 ways, the first is directly – making sure that conservation charities in the country are well resourced, and by giving money to those which engage locals and make sure that it is financially an incentive for the gibbon to survive. The other way, is through ecotourism – by travelling to visit Java, and to see the Javan rhino, we can make sure that locals see a direct link between the survival of the gibbon and their own wellbeing – Java lost their Orangutans a very long time ago, as well as their tiger in recent times, there is still a chance for Java to save what is left but they must act now.

 

It was listed as 2500, in 2008, it is unclear what has happened during the intervening 15 years, but its most recent assessment (in 2008) suggests that it had a likelihood of 50% of being extinct within a decade.

 

I suppose that we should feel pleased that we still have a chance. It is estimated that there are 8 viable populations of these gibbons, which add up to 2000, the largest of which is Mount Halimun Salak National park which sustains around 1000 in this single area. Other large populations of several hundred are found in Gunung Ciremai National park and Gunung Gede Pangrango national park. There are also about 12 reserves with non-viable populations. By treating these reserves as one mega reserve, and translocating these gibbons around so as to have one mega population, all these reserves could maintain healthy populations.

 

 Given the fact that the Javan Orangutan is extinct, it is well worth working on saving this gibbon, as it can help them build more ecotourism travel to Java. While these animals are not great apes, they are lesser apes, and are very interesting to watch. There are likely to be a great draw in places where Orangutans do not exist, such as on mainland Asia, as well as in smaller reserves that cannot support Orangutans.

 

This is not a species that I have written about, but as I do in the future, it will appear below. Furthermore, as we add destinations that are good for this species they will appear below the news.

The Borneon white cheeked gibbon, which lives in Borneo has been shown to be closely related (it was until recently considered a subspecies) so will be covered on this page. At the current time, the Borneon white cheeked gibbon is one of the most secure primate species, with over 100,000 remaining in the wild.

 

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