Mona monkeys are also sometimes referred to as Dent's Monkeys. The maximum lifespan of a mona monkey in the wild is around 30 years. Their lifespan is affected by variables such as predators and disease. Their predators include the crested eagle, python, leopard, and golden cat. With respect to diseases, they are naturally immune to yellow fever and the Semliki Forest virus.
In contrast to their condition in their native region in Africa, mona monkeys that were introduced to Grenada have lower muscle tone and poorer health yet higher weight measurements relative to the wild African monkeys. This contrast could be due to the fact that the mona monkeys of Grenada have no predators. Nevertheless, It is currently believed that wild mona monkeys today no longer survive in Grenada.
(Bensen & Glenn 1998, Grzimek 1990, Kingdon 1974, Nowak 1999)
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 ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical
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)
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.
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
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 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
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.
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
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:
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); sexual ; 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
The Niger Delta is an enormous classic distributary system located in West Africa, which stretches more than 300 kilometres wide and serves to capture most of the heavy silt load carried by the Niger River. The peak discharge at the mouth is around 21,800 cubic metres per second in mid-October. The Niger Delta coastal region is arguably the wettest place in Africa with an annual rainfall of over 4000 millimetres. Vertebrate species richness is relatively high in the Niger Delta, although vertebrate endemism is quite low. The Niger Delta swamp forests occupy the entire upper coastal delta. Historically the most important timber species of the inner delta was the Abura (Fleroya ledermannii), a Vulnerable swamp-loving West African tree, which has been reduced below populations viable for timber harvesting in the Niger Delta due to recent over-harvesting of this species as well as general habitat destruction of the delta due to the expanding human population here. Other plants prominent in the inner delta flood forest are: the Azobe tree (Lophira alata), the Okhuen tree (Ricinodendron heudelotii ), the Bitter Bark Tree (Sacoglottis gabonensis), the Rough-barked Flat-top Tree (Albizia adianthifolia), and Pycnanthus angolensis. Also present in its native range is the African Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis)
There are a number of notable mammals present in the inner coastal delta, including the restricted distribution Mona Monkey (Cercopithecus mona), a primate often associated with rivers, found here in the Niger Delta. Also occurring here is the limited range Black Duiker (Cephalophus niger), a near-endemic to the Niger River Basin. In addition, the Endangered Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) is found in the Niger Delta. The near-endemic White-cheeked Guenon (Cercopithecus erythrogaster, VU) is found in the inner delta. The Critically Endangered Niger Delta Red Colubus (Procolobus pennantii ssp. epieni), which primate is endemic to the Niger Delta is also found in the inner delta.The Near Threatened Olive Colobus (Procolobus verus) is restricted to coastal forests of West Africa and is found here in the upper delta.
Some of the reptiles found in the upper coastal Niger Delta are the African Banded Snake (Chamaelycus fasciatus); the West African Dwarf Crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis, VU); the African Slender-snouted Crocodile (Mecistops cataphractus); the Benin Agama (Agama gracilimembris); the Owen's Chameleon (Chamaeleo oweni); the limited range Marsh Snake (Natriciteres fuliginoides); the rather widely distributed Black-line Green Snake (Hapsidophrys lineatus); Cross's Beaked Snake (Rhinotyphlops crossii), an endemic to the Niger Basin as a whole; Morquard's File Snake (Mehelya guirali); the Dull Purple-glossed Snake (Amblyodipsas unicolor); the Rhinoceros Viper (Bitis nasicornis). In addition several of the reptiles found in the outer delta are found within this inner delta area.
Five threatened marine turtle species are found in the mangroves of the lower coastal delta: Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coricea, EN), Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta, EN), Olive Ridley Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea, EN), Hawksbill Sea Turtle (Eretomychelys imbricata, CR), and Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas, EN).
Other reptiles found in the outer NIger Delta are the Nile Crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus), African Softshell Turtle (Trionyx triunguis), African Rock Python (Python sebae), Boomslang Snake (Dispholidus typus), Cabinda Lidless Skink (Panaspis cabindae), Neon Blue Tailed Tree Lizard (Holaspis guentheri), Fischer's Dwarf Gecko (Lygodactylus fischeri), Richardson's Leaf-Toed Gecko (Hemidactylus richardsonii), Spotted Night Adder (Causus maculatus), Tholloni's African Water Snake (Grayia tholloni), Smith's African Water Snake (Grayia smythii), Small-eyed File Snake (Mehelya stenophthalmus), Western Forest File Snake (Mehelya poensis), Western Crowned Snake (Meizodon coronatus), Western Green Snake (Philothamnus irregularis), Variable Green Snake (Philothamnus heterodermus), Slender Burrowing Asp (Atractaspis aterrima), Forest Cobra (Naja melanoleuca), Rough-scaled Bush Viper (Atheris squamigera), and Nile Monitor (Varanus niloticus).
There are a limited number of amphibians in the inner coastal delta including the Marble-legged Frog (Hylarana galamensis). At the extreme eastern edge of the upper delta is a part of the lower Niger and Cross River watersheds that drains the Cross-Sanaka Bioko coastal forests, where the near endemic anuran Cameroon Slippery Frog (Conraua robusta) occurs.
The mona monkey (Cercopithecus mona) is an Old World monkey that lives in western Africa between Ghana and Cameroon. The mona monkey can also be found on the island of Grenada as it was transported to the island aboard slave ships headed to the New World during the 18th century. This guenon lives in groups of up to thirty-five in forests. It mainly feeds on fruit, but sometimes eats insects and leaves. The mona monkey has brown agouti fur with a white rump. Its tail and legs are black and the face is blue-grey with a dark stripe across the face. The mona monkey carries food in cheek pouches.
The male mona monkey has a head-and-body length of 410 to 630 mm (16 to 25 in) and a tail of 520 to 730 mm (20 to 29 in). The female's head-and-body length is 340 to 457 mm (13 to 18 in). The head has a brown crown, broad whitish brow band, grey mask of bare skin and bushy pale cheek fur. The upper parts of the body and the outer sides of the limbs are deep brown while the underparts and the insides of the limbs are creamy-white. On either side of the base of the tail are a pair of patches of white hair which closely resemble the ischial callosities found in baboons and other Old World monkeys in this position.[3]
The mona monkey is native to the lowland forests of eastern Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria and western Cameroon. It has also been introduced into Grenada and São Tomé and Príncipe.[4] Although mainly a forest species, it is able to adapt to heavily degraded forest, gallery forest in savannah regions, and mangrove forest in the delta region of the Niger River, and is generally the commonest monkey near rivers.[2]
The mona monkey is usually found in groups of about twelve individuals, with a single mature male, but larger aggregations also occur. The troop moves through the canopy foraging mainly for fruit, but also eating flowers, seeds and insects and other invertebrates. It is a vocal species with a harsh grating call, and the male issues a "ooer" alarm call. It often associates with other species of monkeys including Lowe's mona monkey (Cercopithecus lowei) and the crested mona monkey (Cercopithecus pogonias).[3]
The mona monkey is a common and adaptable species. Its natural forest habitat has been impacted by much habitat destruction and it suffers from being hunted for food. However the population does not seem to be declining significantly, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being near-threatened.[2]
Mona monkey
Feral mona monkey on Grenada
A wild Mona monkey in Lagos State, Nigeria
The mona monkey (Cercopithecus mona) is an Old World monkey that lives in western Africa between Ghana and Cameroon. The mona monkey can also be found on the island of Grenada as it was transported to the island aboard slave ships headed to the New World during the 18th century. This guenon lives in groups of up to thirty-five in forests. It mainly feeds on fruit, but sometimes eats insects and leaves. The mona monkey has brown agouti fur with a white rump. Its tail and legs are black and the face is blue-grey with a dark stripe across the face. The mona monkey carries food in cheek pouches.
