Chlorocebus aethiops

Geographic Range

Vervet monkeys ( Chlorocebus aethiops ) are found from Senegal to Ethiopia and south to South Africa. These monkeys are found in northeast Africa from the Red Sea near Tokar, south through Abyssinia as far as 5 degrees north, and west to the eastern range of the Tantalus. (Hill,1965)

• Biogeographic Regions
• ethiopian ethiopian
  • native native

Habitat

Bush steppe country in tablelands of the Southern Sudan and Abyssinia. Vervets must drink water daily in the dry seasons, and therefore their habitat is limited to those near constant water supplies. (Hill, 1965)

• Habitat Regions
• tropical tropical
• terrestrial terrestrial

• Terrestrial Biomes
• savanna or grassland savanna or grassland
• scrub forest scrub forest

Physical Description

Chlorocebus aethiops is usually around 400 to 600 mm in length (head and body), with tales about 300 to 500 mm. weights typically range between 3 and 5 kg. Males are larger than females. All individuals have close-fitting moderate length hairs over most of the body, and elongated side-whiskers. The whiskers are usually a lighter color (white or pale yellow) and differ in length from individual to individual. The faces of vervet monkeys are usually sooty black. A defining characteristic of this species is the greenish color of the upper parts of the face, which is caused by the banding together of individual hairs with black and yellow strands. In males, the scrotum and surrounding areas are bright blue or a greenish color. (Hill, 1965; Parker, 1983)

• Other Physical Features
• endothermic endothermic
• homoiothermic
• bilateral symmetry bilateral symmetry

• Sexual Dimorphism
• male larger

Reproduction

Females typically have few mates in their lifetime, whereas some males have numerous mates. (Sellers)

• Mating System
• polygynous polygynous

Little is known about the reproductive habits of C. aethiops ; however, like most primates, they are cyclically receptive. Visual changes in the vulva of females, such as swelling, alert the males as to when the females are in heat.

• Key Reproductive Features
• gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)
• sexual sexual
• viviparous viviparous

Females take a strong interest in raising their young. Within the social groups, other females often share this task with the mother.

• Parental Investment
• pre-fertilization
  • provisioning
  • protecting
    • female
• pre-hatching/birth
  • provisioning
    • female
  • protecting
    • female
• pre-weaning/fledging
  • provisioning
    • female
  • protecting
    • female
• extended period of juvenile learning

Lifespan/Longevity

Behavior

These are highly social animals. They travel in small groups and are one of the few species to have multi-male groups. High ranking males demonstrate their place in the hierarchy by placing their tail in a stiffly upright position and strolling past lower ranking males. Vervets differ from other species in that they prefer open areas to forests and are very adept at traveling on the ground. Grooming is a common behavior among most primates, and C. aethiops is no exception. Grooming is commonly used as a courtship strategy. (Hill, 1965; Sellers)

• Key Behaviors
• arboreal arboreal
• terricolous
• diurnal diurnal
• motile motile
• sedentary sedentary
• social social
• dominance hierarchies dominance hierarchies

Communication and Perception

• Perception Channels
• tactile tactile
• chemical chemical

Food Habits

Chlorocebus aethiops is omnivorous but with a heavy emphasis on fruit. Their diets often Include insects, vegetable matter, and at times, small mammals and birds. (Harris, 1970)

• Primary Diet
• omnivore omnivore

• Animal Foods
• birds
• mammals
• insects

• Plant Foods
• leaves
• fruit

Predation

Vervet monkeys fall prey to leopards, snakes and raptors, as do other savanah monkeys. They may also be preyed upon by baboons.

Ecosystem Roles

As frugivorous monkeys, vervets may play some role in seed dispersal. Because they sometimes prey on other animals, they may act as a check on populations of certain insects, birds, and small mammals. As a prey species, they are likely to impact predator populations.

• Ecosystem Impact
• disperses seeds

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

Chlorocebus aethiops is separated evolutionarily from humans by more than 50 million years. Their resemblance to Homo sapiens , however, in characteristics such as the nervous system, reproduction systems, and suceptibility to certain parasites make them especially desireable for biological studies. (Harris, 1970)

• Positive Impacts
• research and education

Conservation Status

Chlorocebus aethiops is being threatened by continous deforestation and and destruction of their natural habitat. CITES Appendix 2. (Parker, 1983)

Additional Links

Encyclopedia of Life

Contributors

Nancy Shefferly (editor), Animal Diversity Web.

Melissa Jill Rochester (author), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

References

Nowak, R. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World, Sixth Edition . Baltimore and London: The Johns Hopkins University Press.

Harris, R. S. 1970. Feeding and Nutrition of nonhuman Primates. Academic Press, New York

Hill. 1965 Primates, Comparative Anatomy and Taxonomy. Volume VI. University Press, Edinburgh

Parker, S. P. (editor). 1983. Grizmeks Encyclopedia - Mammals, English Edition. McGraw-Hill Publishing Company, New York

Sellers, Dr. Bill. http://www.leeds.ac.uk/chb/lectures/anthl_11.html