Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Primates
- Family
- Cercopithecidae
- Genus
- Cercopithecus
Habitat
They primarily inhabit lowland rainforests and riverine forests in West Africa, from Sierra Leone to Ghana. These monkeys prefer dense, tropical vegetation with plenty of canopy cover, often found in both primary and secondary forests. They thrive in humid environments but avoid open savannas or highly disturbed areas.
Diet
Campbell's mona monkeys mainly eat fruits, leaves, and flowers, supplemented by insects, seeds, and occasionally small vertebrates like lizards. They forage primarily in the forest canopy during the day, showing a preference for ripe fruits when available. Feeding activity peaks in the early morning and late afternoon to avoid the hottest parts of the day.
Behavior
They live in social groups of 5-15 individuals, usually led by a dominant male, and communicate through vocalizations and facial expressions. These monkeys are diurnal and highly arboreal, spending most of their time in trees to forage and rest. They exhibit territorial behavior by defending their home ranges with alarm calls and chases, and engage in grooming to strengthen social bonds.
Conservation Status
The IUCN classifies Campbell's mona monkey as Least Concern, but populations are declining due to habitat loss and hunting. Major threats include deforestation for agriculture and the bushmeat trade.