Mona monkeys, Cercopithecus mona, are found in southwest Africa. These countries include Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Senegal, Congo, Angola, Kasai, Gambia, Kwango, and West Uganda. The species was also introduced to Grenada around the late 1600s.

(Estes 1991, Glenn 1997, Grzimek 1990, MacDonald 1985, Meester 1968, Nowak 1999, Zoo Atlanta 1998)

Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Introduced ); ethiopian (Native ); neotropical (Introduced )

Cercopithecus mona is a small Old World guenon monkey with a body length of 32 to 53 cm and a long tail of 67 to 90 cm. Individuals are colorful. The dorsal fur is red-brown to brown-agouti. Theventral surface and buttocks are white. The upper half of the face is bluish-gray with a white band on the forehead. Eyebrows are dark, and the snout is pinkish. Around the face, the hair is yellow with a dark stripe running from between the eyes to the ears. The cheeks are greyish-yellow and the lips are white. Other prominent features are the long thick sideburns and white long tufts on the ears. The tail is near black on top with grey underneath. the tail tip is black.

Males are typically larger than females, so there is sexual dimorphism in size. Other than size, however, males and females are similar. Males usually weigh around 5 kg, whereas females usually weigh around 4 kg.

Albinism is known to occur in this species, but it is rare

(Grzimek 1990, Hill 1966, Kingdon 1974, MacDonald 1985, Nowak 1999, Zoo Atlanta 1998)

Range mass: 2 to 6 kg.

Range length: 32 to 53 cm.

Other Physical Features: endothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry

Sexual Dimorphism: male larger

• Terrestrial

Cercopithecus mona is an arboreal creature and can be found primarily in rainforests, toward the middle and top of the trees. This species is also found in mangrove swamps, gallery forests, and woodlands. Rarely, mona monkeys are seen in farmlands. The territory of a typical group ranges from 5 to 50 acres.

(Grzimek 1990, MacDonald 1985, Nowak 1999, Zoo Atlanta 1998)

Habitat Regions: tropical ; terrestrial

Terrestrial Biomes: forest ; rainforest

Wetlands: swamp

Other Habitat Features: agricultural

Mona monkeys are omnivorous. Most of their diet consists of fruits. In addition to eating fruit, they may also feed on sprouts, young leaves, and invertebrates. Of all species in the genus Cercopithecus, C. mona eats the greatest proportion of insects and least of leaves.

An interesting aspect of the feeding habits of these animals is how they store their food in cheek pouches. The capacity of these pouches is almost as large as that of the stomach. The pouches extend from the lower teeth to both sides of the neck.

The cusps on the teeth are good for grinding food, which suits the diverse diet of this species.

(Grzimek 1990, MacDonald 1978, Nowak 1999, Zoo Atlanta 1998)

Animal Foods: insects

Plant Foods: leaves; fruit

Primary Diet: omnivore

To the extent that these monkeys serve as food for other species, they may have an impact on predator populations. Because of their frugivory and their cheek pouches, mona monkeys are undoubtedly important in seed dispersal.

Details on predation of this species are not widespread in the literature. However, these monkeys apparently fall prey to the same predators that complicate the lives of other forest primates in Africa. It is likely that leopards, golden cats, pythons, and raptors (like crested eagles) all present threats to mona monkeys.

Known Predators:

• leopards
• golden cats
• crested eagles
• pythons

These monkeys are known to be loud and noisy, with calls that sound like expressive moans. Their alarm calls sound like little sneezes. The males make boom and hack calls in order to show territory and rank. Although it is commonly thought that their moan is the origin of their name "mona", their common name actually refers to their long tails and the Moorish root of the word.

In addition to vocal communication, the complex facial markings of this species indicate that there is also visual communication. Facial expressions and body postures probably figure prominently in the communication of this diurnal species.

Tactile communication occurs in all primates, as grooming, mating, caring for young, and aggressive confrontations all involve physical contact between individuals.

Because this species does not show a prominent sexual swelling to display estrus, it is likely that in addition to behavioral cues, males can detect the presence of sexual receptivity in females through olfactory information.

Communication Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical

Perception Channels: visual ; acoustic

Longevity of this species has been estimated at a maximum of around 30 years.

Average lifespan

Status: captivity: 22.0 years.

Average lifespan

Sex: female

Status: captivity: 20.5 years.

Average lifespan

Status: wild: 30.0 years.

Not much is known about the mating behavior of mona monkeys. However, since their social organization consists of large predominantly-female groups with very few males, this may suggest that males and females form polygynous bonds.

Mating System: polygynous

An interesting fact is that females show no signs of estrus swelling. In primates, this usually indicates that females communicate their sexual receptivity through behaviors, and that they mate with only one male.

The gestation period is typically between 5 and 6 months. Only one young is usually born at a time, but twins are also known to occur. A female typically gives birth every two years. Birth usually takes place at night up in a tree. Weaning occurs around one year of age. Sexual maturation occurs anywhere from 2 to 5 years of age.

(Grzimek 1991, Zoo Atlanta 1998)

Breeding interval: A female typically breeds every other year.

Breeding season: It is not known whether these primates breed seasonally.

Range number of offspring: 1 to 2.

Range gestation period: 5 to 6 months.

Average weaning age: 12 months.

Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 2 to 5 years.

Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 2 to 5 years.

Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); fertilization ; viviparous

Average birth mass: 284 g.

Average number of offspring: 1.

Females nurse and care for their young for about a year. The male role in parental care has not been reported.

Parental Investment: pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-independence (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); extended period of juvenile learning

Overall, this species is still considered to be abundant. It is not listed by either IUCN or U.S. ESA.

This species has been bred in captivity, where the maximum life span is 26 years. The have been known to hybridize successfully with other species in captivity. These include Cercopithecus neglectus, Cercopithecus mitis, and Cercopithecus atheiops.

(Grzimek 1990, Kingdon 1974, Nowak 1999, Zoo Atlanta 1989)

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: appendix ii

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern

Perhaps because their habitat is disappearing, mona monkeys are sometimes know to raid crops.

(Kingdon, 1974)

Negative Impacts: crop pest

Although not of great economic importance in modern days, these monkeys were historically traded as pets. During the peak of the slave trade period (late 1600s to 1700s), mona monkeys were introduced to Grenada in Central America. At that time, introducing small African animals as pets was common. However, because only a few were transported at a time, the number of animals involved was small. Some of these animals escaped and founded a wild population.

(Benson & Glenn, 1998)