Tantalus monkey

The Tantalus Vervet monkey ( Chlorocebus tantalus ) is a primate of the family Cercopithecidae ( Cercopithecidae ). It is one of six species in the African green monkeys are distinguished in recent classifications.

The fur of these primates is colored gray-green on the upper side, the underside is lighter, almost white. The face is black, the forehead is a light stripe. Black are also the hands and the feet. They reach a body length of 40 to 60 centimeters and a tail length of up to 70 centimeters and a weight of 4-6 kg, the males are significantly heavier than the females.

Tantalus monkeys are located in the central Africa, their range extends from the Volta River in Ghana to Sudan, Uganda and northwestern Kenya ( around Lake Turkana ). They inhabit a variety of habitats, both open forests and savannas are, however, dependent on sleeping trees.

Their way of life is likely to coincide with that of other vervet monkeys. They are diurnal and hold off on more frequently than other sea Feline on the ground, although they can climb well. They live in large groups consisting of several males, many females and their offspring, and may comprise up to 80 animals. In the groups males and females establish a distinct hierarchy in the access to food resources and mutual grooming is expressed among others.

They are omnivorous, fruits, shoots and other parts of plants, but will also take insects and other small animals to him.

Although they are locally hunted for their meat and suffer the destruction of their habitat, but should not belong to the endangered species, the Tantalus vervet monkeys.