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De Brazza's monkey

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

De Brazza's monkey(Cercopithecus neglectus) is anOld World monkeyendemic to the riverine and swamp forests of central Africa. The largest species in the guenon family, it is one of the most widespread arboreal African primates. Aside from size, it can be differentiated from otherCercopithecusmonkeys by its orange diadem and white beard. Due to its cryptic nature, the species is not well documented in all of its habitats but has shown unique traits, such as pair-bonding and aggressive behavior towards otherguenons.

Etymology

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Locally known as swamp monkeys, these primates are named after the Italian naturalist and explorerJacques Savorgnan de Brazza.[3][4] Their scientific species name,neglectus,which means to pay no attention to, was given to them because of their ability to hide from both humans and predators.[5]

Description

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A female De Brazza's monkey grooms a male.

The De Brazza's monkey is the mostsexually dimorphicspeciesofguenon;males weigh around 7 kilograms, while females weigh around 4 kilograms. Adults have greyagoutifur with a reddish-brown back, black limbs and tail, and a white rump. Both sexes have cheek pouches they use to carry food while they forage.[6][7]Males have a distinct blue scrotum, while females have a red perianal region and visible nipples. Juveniles lack the darker colors on the extremities that is characteristic of adults, but retain the whites stripes and red rump while infants are a uniform brownagoutiwith only a small beard. The white muzzle and beard, along with an orange crescent on its forehead and white stripes on its thighs distinguish it from otherguenons.[6][8]Due to this distinctive appearance, the monkey is sometimes referred to as the "Ayatollah Monkey" after the similarly beardedGrand AyatollahRuhollah Khomeini.

Ecology

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Distribution and habitat

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De Brazza's monkeys range across the swamps, bamboo and dry mountain forests ofAngola,Cameroon,Central African Republic,Congo,Democratic Republic of the Congo,Equatorial Guinea,Ethiopia,Gabon,Kenya,South Sudan,NigeriaandUgandaand possiblyTanzaniathough reports have not been confirmed.[9][2][10]Troops are found almost exclusively near water, rarely venturing farther than 1 km away from a river ortributary.As a result, they can sometimes be seen swimming.[6][7]The monkeys prefer dense forest and vegetation, only venturing into more open forest to feed. They are mainly arboreal, but descends to the ground to feed on herbaceous plants.[6][2]Due to its cryptic nature there is no accurate population estimate for the species over its entire range.[8]

Diet

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The diet of De Brazza's monkeys consists mostly ofherbaceousplants found on theforest floor,andfruitswhen available. These are supplemented withinsects,seeds,and other food sources when primary foods are scarce.[7]

Predators

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Predators of the De Brazza's monkey include thecrowned eagle,leopard,humans,andcommon chimpanzees.Though rare,dogsandPython smay also prey on juvenile De Brazza's. The typical predator response is to curl up in a tight ball against the side of a tree with the orange crown and white stripes on the thighs hidden and wait silently for the predator to leave. Individuals will move only if the predator approaches their position, and even then they move quietly and slowly to try to escape notice.[7]

Behavior

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Mother with young

The lifespan of the De Brazza's monkey is thought to correspond similarly to other members ofCercopithecuswhich live up to 22 years in the wild and 30 years in captivity.[8]Its cryptic nature makes the De Brazza's monkey hard to observe in the wild. Troop sizes are small for aguenon,ranging from 2-10 individuals on average.[11]In some areas ofWestern Africa,such asGabonandCameroon,small pair-bonded groups of a male, female, and infants and juveniles have been observed. InEastern Africa,the DeBrazza's monkeys live in single male, multi-female groups. Solitary males do not create bachelor groups and will occasionally depose anAlpha maleto take over access to the females.[7]

Male De Brazza's monkey communicates with booming sounds. These are usually heard early in the morning when the male calls out to establish his territory, though he will also use this call to bring the group back together if they get separated.[6][7]When attacked by predators, males will give analarm call.In the case ofcrowned eagles,males will emit a short bark before attacking the eagle to scare it off. Females have also been observed to give alarms calls and growl at humans. Otherwise, female vocalizations are limited to quiet croaks given when feeding or resting. Infants and juveniles will give shrill squeals of distress when separated from their mothers or the group.[7]Given the cryptic nature of this species, hearing their calls is sometimes the only way to know they are present.[12]Unlike otherguenons,which often form polyspecific associations to decreasepredationand increase foraging, DeBrazza's monkeys will be aggressive towards other species and have only been known to tolerate somecolobinespecies which do not compete with them for resources.[7]

Reproduction

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Female De Brazza's monkeys reach sexual maturity around 5 years of age, while males do not reach maturity until closer to 6 years of age.[13]Most juveniles males will leave their natal group before they reach maturity.[7]The breeding season lasts from February to March, but females can also go into estrous during times of high food availability.[6]Gestation lasts between 5 and 6 months, and an infant stays close to its mother for the first year of its life at which point it is weaned.[6][13]Females usually have one infant at a time, though twins have been born on rare occasions, with a year long inter-birth interval.[13]

Conservation

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The De Brazza's monkey is listed asleast concernby theIUCN Red List.[8]The main threats to DeBrazza's monkeys aredeforestationdue tologgingandagriculture,andbushmeathunting.[14][15]There are several captive population housed in zoos across Europe and North America. TheAssociation of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)manages captive population under aspecies survival plan.This is unique because the species is not listed asvulnerableorendangered,but has been sponsored by theAZAto proactively prevent need for reactive conservation in the future.[16]More data is needed to fully assess the conservation needs of this species.[8]

References

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  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.ISBN0-801-88221-4.OCLC62265494.
  2. ^abcMwenja, I.; Maisels, F.; Hart, J.A. (2019)."Cercopithecus neglectus".IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.2019:e.T4223A17947167.doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T4223A17947167.en.Retrieved19 November2021.
  3. ^Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference.Wilson, Don E., Reeder, DeeAnn M. (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. 2005.ISBN0-8018-8221-4.OCLC57557352.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: others (link)
  4. ^Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2009-11-18),"De Brazza",The Eponym Dictionary of Mammals,JHU Press,ISBN978-0-8018-9533-3,retrieved2021-06-16
  5. ^"DeBrazza's Monkey".Capron Park Zoo.9 August 2018.
  6. ^abcdefgStein, J. (2002)."Cercopithecus neglectus".Animal Diversity Web.Retrieved2012-04-30.
  7. ^abcdefghiWahome, J. M.; Rowell, T. E.; Tsingalia, H. M. (June 1993). "The natural history of de Brazza's monkey in Kenya".International Journal of Primatology.14(3): 445–466.doi:10.1007/bf02192776.S2CID29669505.
  8. ^abcde"DeBrazza's monkey: Cercopithecus neglectus".IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.2019-02-03. 2019-02-03.Retrieved2019-12-04.
  9. ^ Karere G. Mugambi, Mbaruk A. Suleman & Wilbur Ottichilo; Thomas M. Butynski (1997). "The vanishing De Brazza's monkey (Cercopithecus neglectusSchlegel) in Kenya ".International Journal of Primatology.18(6): 995–1004.doi:10.1023/A:1026352331577.S2CID20340955.
  10. ^Butynski, Thomas M.; Jong, Yvonne A. de (2019). "Primates of Africa's Coastal Deltas and Their Conservation".Primates in Flooded Habitats.pp. 244–258.doi:10.1017/9781316466780.031.ISBN9781316466780.S2CID133860398.
  11. ^Mugambi, Karere G.; Butynski, Thomas M.; Suleman, Mbaruk A.; Ottichilo, Wilbur (1997). "The Vanishing De Brazza's Monkey (Cercopithecus neglectus Schlegel) in Kenya".International Journal of Primatology.18(6): 995–1004.doi:10.1023/A:1026352331577.S2CID20340955.
  12. ^Maisels, Fiona; Bout, Nicolas; Inkamba-Inkulu, Clement; Pearson, Liz; Aczel, Paul; Ambahe, Rufin; Ambassa, Edgar; Fotso, Roger (January 2007). "New Northwestern and Southwestern Range Limits of De Brazza's Monkey, Mbam et Djerem National Park, Cameroon, and Bateke Plateau, Gabon and Congo".Primate Conservation.22(1): 107–110.doi:10.1896/052.022.0109.hdl:1893/19763.S2CID15669852.
  13. ^abc"Cercopithecus neglectus de brazza's Monkey: Fr. Cercopithèque de Brazza; Ger. Brazza-Meerkatze".Mammals of Africa: Primates.2013.doi:10.5040/9781472926920.0059.ISBN978-1-4729-2692-0.
  14. ^King, Tony (November 2008)."Detectability and Conservation of De Brazza's Monkey ( Cercopithecus neglectus ) in the Lesio-Louna and South-West Lefini Reserves, Bateke Plateau, Republic of Congo".Primate Conservation.23(1): 39–44.doi:10.1896/052.023.0104.
  15. ^Aghokeng, Avelin F.; Ayouba, Ahidjo; Mpoudi-Ngole, Eitel; Loul, Severin; Liegeois, Florian; Delaporte, Eric; Peeters, Martine (April 2010)."Extensive survey on the prevalence and genetic diversity of SIVs in primate bushmeat provides insights into risks for potential new cross-species transmissions".Infection, Genetics and Evolution.10(3): 386–396.doi:10.1016/j.meegid.2009.04.014.PMC2844463.PMID19393772.
  16. ^"AZA Species Survival Plan© Profile: De Brazza's Monkey".umich.edu.Retrieved2019-12-04.
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