White-throated guenon

Rotbauchmeerkatze ( Cercopithecus erythrogaster )

The Rotbauchmeerkatze ( Cercopithecus erythrogaster ) is a primate of the species of vervet monkeys ( Cercopithecus ) within the family Cercopithecidae ( Cercopithecidae ).

Features

The fur of the Rotbauchmeerkatzen is colored predominantly dark, under the face they have a white and yellow whiskers similar hairiness. The face around the eyes is blue, the nose is colored white. The eponymous reddish brown color of the chest and abdomen is not always present in some animals, this area is gray. These include primates, weighing 3.5 to 4.5 kg for males and from 2 to 4 kg in females of the smaller sea cat species.

Distribution and habitat

These animals live only in a small area in the southwestern Nigeria and southern Benin. Their habitat are rainforests, both primary and secondary forests. In Nigeria, their distribution area concerns the Okomu National Park and various Forest Reserves, as the two Ramsar protected areas in the Niger Delta on Apoi Creek and the upper Orashi River.

Way of life

Rotbauchmeerkatzen are diurnal Baumbewöhner and live like all the monkeys in groups, usually in small groups of around five animals, but sometimes it also takes up to 30 individuals. The food of these animals consists primarily of fruits, next they will also take insects and leaves to him.

Threat

Intensive hunting because of their beautiful fur has brought to the brink of extinction, another factor is the destruction of their habitat by progressive deforestation and urban sprawl the way. The IUCN lists the species as endangered ( endangered ).