Dent's mona monkey
| Dent's mona monkey[1] | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Primates |
| Suborder: | Haplorhini |
| Infraorder: | Simiiformes |
| Family: | Cercopithecidae |
| Genus: | Cercopithecus |
| Species: | C. denti
|
| Binomial name | |
| Cercopithecus denti Thomas, 1907
| |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Dent's mona monkey (Cercopithecus denti) is an Old World monkey in the family Cercopithecidae found in Central Africa. Debate on whether it constituted a separate species or subspecies continued between zoologists, and it was previously classified as a subspecies of other monkeys by some of them. It was re-classified as a separate species in 2001. It is classified as Least Concern in the IUCN Red List.
Taxonomy
Dent's mona monkey is an Old World monkey in the family Cercopithecidae.[3] The species was described by English zoologist Oldfield Thomas in 1907.[4] Debate on whether it constituted a separate species or subspecies continued between zoologists. While many zoologists classified it as a separate species, it was classified as a subspecies of other monkeys by mona monkey, Wolf's mona monkey, and crested mona monkey by some of them across the years.[1][5] Further research was required to examine the various species of mona monkeys in the forests between the Lualaba and Lomani rivers.[5][6] It was re-classified as a separate species in 2001.[7][8]
Morphology
They are small monkeys with long, flexible limbs, and a long tail. The males are larger with the females about two-third the size of the males.[5] Males weigh about 3.8 to 4.2 kg (8.4 to 9.3 lb) and have a head to tail length of 44.5 to 51.1 cm (17.5 to 20.1 in) with a 49 cm (19 in) tail. The tail is mainly used for maintaining balance.[8] Both the sexes exhibit similar colorization.[5] The body fur varies in colour from brown to red.[8] The underside and inner part of the limbs are white in color.[5][8] They have blue eyes with a tuft of hair extending from the brows towards the protruding ears.[5] They have white facial hair above their lips. Mona monkeys have cheek pouches that are used to store food. They also possess thick skin on their hind quarters that supports prolonged sitting. The males have blue colored scrotums and larger canine teeth, as a part of sexual dimorphism.[8]
Distribution and habitat
Dent's Mona monkey is found in the Central African countries of Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Congo, Rwanda, western Uganda, and the Central African Republic.[1][7] There have been reports of sightings in Burundi's Ruzizi plains. They prefer tropical forests of up to 2,400 m (7,900 ft) elevation in the eastern part of their range.[8] It occurs in lowland river plains, and montane forests across the range.[5] It is classified as Least Concern in the IUCN Red List.[2]
Behaviour
Dent's Mona monkeys are believed to have a life expectancy of about 20 years.[8] They are diurnal and are most active in the early morning and in the evening.[8] They are arboreal, spending most of the time on trees. They are omnivorous, and the diet ranges from fruits, flowers, and leaves to small insects.[5][8] They generally move on all four limbs.[8] They make loud and varied vocalizations. They are social animals and are usually found in groups consisting of a single male and multiple females.[5]
References
- ^ a b c Groves, C. P. (2005). Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. OCLC 62265494.
- ^ a b Oates, J. F.; Hart, J. & Groves, C. P. (2016). "Cercopithecus denti". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016. IUCN: e.T136885A92412321. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T136885A92412321.en. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
- ^ "Cercopithecus denti". Animal Diversity. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ Oldfield Thomas. "On further new mammals obtained by the Ruwenzori Expedition". Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 7 (19): 118–123.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Kingdon, Jonathan (2013). Mammals of Africa. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 330-334. ISBN 978-1-408-12257-0.
- ^ Booth, A.H. (August 1955). "Speciation in the Mona Monkeys". Journal of Mammalogy. 36 (3): 434–449. doi:10.2307/1375687. JSTOR 1375687.
- ^ a b Don E. Wilson. Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 155. ISBN 978-0-801-88221-0.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Dent's monkey". Neoprimate conservancy. Retrieved 1 June 2025.