Allen's swamp monkey

Allen's swamp monkey
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Primates
Family:	Cercopithecidae
Subfamily:	Cercopithecinae
Tribe:	Cercopithecini
Genus:	Allenopithecus Lang, 1923
Species:	A. nigroviridis
Binomial name
Allenopithecus nigroviridis (Pocock, 1907)
Allen's swamp monkey range

Allen's swamp monkey (Allenopithecus nigroviridis) is a primate species categorized in its own genus Allenopithecus in the Old World monkey family. Systematically, it is a sister clade to the guenons, but differs in dentition and habits.

Range

Allen's swamp monkey lives in the Congo Basin, in the Republic of Congo and in the west of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Description

This monkey is a rather strongly built animal. Its skin is grey-green at the top side. Its face is reddish with long hair bundles at the cheeks. The slight webbing of the fingers and toes point to its partially aquatic way of life. Allen's swamp monkey can reach a full body length from 45 to 60 cm, with an approximately 50 cm long tail. Males, weighing up to 6 kg, are substantially larger than the females (up to 3.5 kg).

Behavior

Although still hunted for its meat, the Allen's swamp monkey is increasingly seen as a household pet. (Photo taken in Basankusu, 2007)

Allen's swamp monkey is a diurnal animal and regularly looks for food on the ground. It inhabits swampy, water-rich areas and can swim well, diving to avoid danger. It lives together in social groups of up to 40 animals, communicating with different calls, gestures and touches.

Its diet consists of fruits and leaves, as well as beetles and worms.

Little is known of the mating habits of this species. The females bear young, which are weaned in approximately three months and are mature after three to five years. Its lifespan can be as long as 23 years. Raptors, snakes and the bonobo rank among the natural enemies of Allen's swamp monkey. Unlike other primates, its swampy habitat is not so strongly exposed to the danger of the forests. However, it is hunted for its meat.

External links

• Primate Info Net Allenopithecus Factsheets
• http://members.tripod.com/uakari/allenopithecus_nigroviridis.html