Genus Cercopithecus Higher classification Guenon | Phylum Chordata Family Cercopithecidae Scientific name Cercopithecus erythrotis Rank Species | |
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Similar Preuss's monkey, White‑throated guenon, Crested mona monkey, Dryas monkey, Sclater's guenon | ||
Erythrotis red eared guenon on bioko island
The red-eared guenon, red-eared monkey, or russet-eared guenon (Cercopithecus erythrotis) is a species of primate in the family Cercopithecidae. It is found in Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and Nigeria. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss, illegal bushmeat hunting and pet trade.
Contents
- Erythrotis red eared guenon on bioko island
- Description
- Distribution and subspecies
- Habitat
- Habits
- Threats
- References
Description
The red-eared guenon is a small, colourful monkey with distinctive facial markings which involve blue fur around its eyes, a brick-red nose and ears, and yellow cheeks. The silky fur on the body consists of banded brown and pale hairs with grey limbs and a long, red tail. The long tails are partially prehensile and are used by infants to cling to the female. The red eared guenon is an unobtrusive species which produces a quiet trill, unlike the loud long distance calls made by other guenons. Males average 420mm head and bodylength, with a 609mm long tail, females are smaller with a mean head and body length of 384mm and an average tail length of 553mm.
Distribution and subspecies
There are two recognised subspecies, which are listed below with their distributions:
Habitat
The red-eared guenon is found in primary and secondary lowland tropical and sub-montane moist forest, and sometimes lives in close proximity to humans, as on Bioko.
Habits
The red-eared guenon is omnivorous and has been recorded eating fruit, leaves, shoots and insects, the latter are important for nutrition, especially for pregnant and lactating females. The red-eared guenon normally forms groups consisting of at least one adult male and around ten females with young which are not as hierarchical as some primate societies. They are territorial but they usually avoid conflict with other groups. The breeding biology of red-eared guenons is little known but similar species give birth to a single infant every one to three years, with pregnancy taking five or six months.
Threats
The red-eared guenon is threatened by deforestation and by the bushmeat trade, particularly on Bioko, where it is frequently recorded in bushmeat market in Malabo.