Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Primates
- Family
- Cercopithecidae
- Genus
- Cercopithecus
Habitat
They primarily inhabit lowland rainforests and swamp forests in West Africa, such as in Nigeria, Cameroon, and Equatorial Guinea. These monkeys prefer dense vegetation near rivers and streams, avoiding open areas.
Diet
Red-eared guenons eat a variety of fruits, leaves, seeds, and insects, with occasional small vertebrates like lizards. They forage in trees during the day, using their hands to manipulate food items.
Behavior
They live in social groups of 10-30 individuals led by a dominant male, exhibiting territorial behaviors like vocal calls and chases. Red-eared guenons are diurnal and arboreal, spending most of their time in trees, and they communicate through a range of vocalizations and facial expressions.
Conservation Status
The IUCN status is Vulnerable, with populations declining due to habitat loss from deforestation and hunting for the bushmeat trade.