Hussar monkey, Military monkey, Red guenon, Wadi monkey, Sergeant Major monkey, Dancing monkey, Common patas monkey
The common patas monkey (Erythrocebus patas ), also known as the wadi monkey or hussar monkey, is a ground-dwelling monkey distributed over semi-arid areas of West Africa, and into East Africa.
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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OmnivoreAn omnivore is an animal that has the ability to eat and survive on both plant and animal matter. Obtaining energy and nutrients from plant and ani...
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ArborealArboreal locomotion is the locomotion of animals in trees. In habitats in which trees are present, animals have evolved to move in them. Some anima...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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NomadicNomadic animals regularly move to and from the same areas within a well-defined range. Most animals travel in groups in search of better territorie...
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TerritorialA territory is a sociographical area that which an animal consistently defends against the conspecific competition (or, occasionally, against anima...
Among animals, viviparity is the development of the embryo inside the body of the parent. The term 'viviparity' and its adjective form 'viviparous'...
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PolygynyPolygyny is a mating system in which one male lives and mates with multiple females but each female only mates with a single male.
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PolygynandryPolygynandry is a mating system in which both males and females have multiple mating partners during a breeding season.
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SocialA dominance hierarchy (formerly and colloquially called a pecking order) is a type of social hierarchy that arises when members of animal social gr...
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Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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starts withThe fastest primate in the world, the Patas monkey deserves this title due to its long limbs, slender body and a deep chest, giving this animal an amazing sprinting ability and allowing it to gain a high speed of up to 55 kilometers per hour. Males of this species are distinguished from females by a number of characteristics. Thus, they exhibit manes and long white moustaches, which aren't found in females. Furthermore, male Patas monkeys have brighter overall coloration with reddish and grey body, white rump as well as white colored backs of their hind limbs. On the other hand, females display noticeably duller coloration.
These primates are native and endemic exclusively to Africa, where they occur throughout sub-Saharan region from the western edge of Senegal to East Africa and south to Cameroon. Smaller populations of Patas monkeys occur in the Serengeti National Park and the Grumeti River Corridor in Tanzania. Additionally, isolated populations are found on the Air Massif (Niger) and the Ennedi Massif (Chad). Most Patas monkeys live in Acacia woodland, especially in areas adjacent to grassland. Although they generally prefer environment with high grass and scattered trees, Patas monkeys occupy a wide variety of habitats such as steppe, thicket, open grassland and wooded savanna.
The Patas monkeys are diurnal animals. They form troops of 10 - 40 individuals, consisting of a single dominant male and multiple females with their offspring. These primates live in a female-dominated society. Females not only lead the groups, but also defend the territory of their group from other troops. Although living together, males and females associate mainly during the breeding season. However, along with breeding, males do have some responsibilities such as protecting the group from threats. When another group appears on their territory, males engage in confrontation, emitting a loud warning call to drive away the intruders. They remain along the boundaries of their group's territory, alerting troop members of approaching threats. They often expose themselves to predators, acting as a decoy while the rest of the group flees to their shelters.
As omnivorous animals, Patas monkeys feed upon a wide range of food. Their diet generally consists of pods, seeds, gall, young leaves, gum and flowers of Acacia trees, supplemented with occasional grasses, berries, seeds, fruits as well as insects, eggs, lizards and young birds.
The reproductive system of this species is referred to as ‘harem polygyny’. They live in harem groups of multiple females and a single male, who mates with them all. Patas monkeys occasionally exhibit polygynandrous (promiscuous) system, when males from the outside join these harems during the reproductive season and individuals of both sexes breed with multiple partners. Populations in various regions breed either in June-September or October-January. Gestation period lasts for 5 months, yielding one baby. The newborn infant is nursed and cared by its mother. At the early stage of development, the young monkey will cling to its mother. After reaching maturity and independence, males of this species disperse, typically joining all-male groups, although some may remain solitary, until the following mating season. The age of reproductive maturity is 3 - 4 years old in males and 2.5 years old in females.
The Patas monkeys are generally threatened by loss and degradation of their natural range as a result of overgrazing by cattle as well as clearance of their savanna habitat for crops. In addition, these primates are currently hunted for their meat. And finally, the Patas monkeys are persecuted and killed as pests due to raiding crops.
No estimate of population size is available for Patas monkeys. However, this species is known to occur in Tanzania, where the largest population of 200 – 300 individuals are found in the western Serengeti. The population on the slopes of Burko mountain is around 20-30 individuals. Additionally, around 20-30 individuals occur in the Lolkisale area. Patas monkeys have also been introduced to the Islands of Cueva and Guayacan (Puerto Rico) between 1971 and 1981. In 2006, their estimated population size in this country was between 514 to 621 individuals. Overall, Patas monkeys are classified as Least Concern (LC), but their numbers are decreasing today.
Due to their diet, mandrills may play some role in seed dispersal. To the extent that they serve as predators or as prey, they may have some effect on local food webs.
Social animals are those animals that interact highly with other animals, usually of their own species (conspecifics), to the point of having a rec...