White Throated Guenon

White Throated Guenon
Source: ZooChat.com

White-throated Monkey is one of Africa’s most threatened primates. Cercopithecus erythrogaster, belonging to the suborder Haplorrhini, Infraorder Simmiiformes, and Family Ceropithecoidae, Called Obo in the Yoruba language and used as a simile for stupidity, or foolishness. The White Throated Monkey is Diurnal, arboreal, and lives in rainforests or tropical areas of southwestern Nigeria, southern Benin and Togo. The monkeys are found in moist forests which may have reached maturity after a long time of non-disturbance (primary forest), or re-grown forest yet to reach maturity (secondary forest).

The white-throated guenon or the red-bellied guenon is a very rare species, classified as vulnerable. It was once considered to have to have gone into extinction till 1988 when a small group was found near the Niger River. As its names suggest, this species possesses a white ruff that covers its entire neck, chin and breast and also has red coloration on its underside. Head-body length is about 46cm and male adults weigh from 3.5 – 4.5 kg, in certain cases almost twice the weight of the female adult, although some weigh as much as 4kg. This primate is a social animal, which lives in troops containing between 5 and 30 individuals. They feed predominantly on fruits and seeds. Small birds, reptiles and insects are also eaten. Leaves may be taken when there is shortage of fruit. Their habitat is often near a river or stream, where it spends most of its time in the canopy.

Contributor:
Tope Apoola
Profession: Writer