Vervet Monkey - {Cercopithecus Aethiops} - Vervets rarely venture further than about 500 yards from ... | South Africa Wildlife

South Africa Wildlife

The Vervet Monkey

SOUTH AFRICA SEARCH BY MAP REGIONS HOTELS ACCOMMODATION TOURS TRANSPORT WEDDINGS CONFERENCES INFO

general info  info for tourists   attractions    golfing   game/nature reserves   wildlife     birdlife    exchange rates    climate/weather   languages and culture

South Africa Wildlife

VERVET MONKEY Cercopithecus aethiops

Click to enlargeDifferent types of vervets vary in colour, but generally the body is a greenish olive or silvery grey. The face, ears, hands, feet and tip of the tail are black, but an obvious white band on the forehead blends in with the short whiskers. Males are slightly larger than females and are easily recognized by their turquoise blue scrota. The vervet is classified as a medium to large monkey. Its tail is held up, with the tip curving down. Arms and legs are the same length.

Size:
18 to 26 inches; weight: Between 6 and 17 pounds.

Habitat:
Woodlands, savannah and high plains. Their preferred habitat is acacia woodland along streams, rivers and lakes. They are diurnal, sleeping and eating in trees from which they seldom venture.

Diet:
Omnivorous; Leaves and young shoots are most important, but bark, flowers, fruit, bulbs, roots and grass seeds are also eaten. The mainly vegetarian diet is supplemented with insects, eggs, baby birds and sometimes rodents and hares. They seldom drink water.

Socialisation:
Complex but stable social groups (also called troops) of 10 to 50 monkeys which mainly consist of adult females and their offspring. The male vervet move freely in and out of these groups.

Within the troop, each adult female is the centre of a small family grouping. Females who have reached puberty generally stay in the troop. vervet spend hours a day removing parasites and other materials from one another's fur. In their hierarchy, dominants get the most grooming.

Reproduction:
The gestation period is 5½ months.

Lifespan:
22 years. (in captivity)

Predators:
Vervets rarely venture further than about 500 yards from the trees, since they are vulnerable to a variety of predators, including leopards, caracal, servals, baboons, large eagles, crocodiles and pythons.

« South Africa Tours | South Africa Game Reserves | South African Safari »

See Wildlife at Game Reserves and Game Lodges in: the Eastern Cape · Limpopo · North West · Gauteng · Mpumalanga · Free State · KwaZulu Natal · Western Cape · Garden Route · Kruger National Park

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

South Africa Accommodation & Travel Network of Web Sites brought to you by and © SA-Venues.com and Suedafrika-Reise.net

western cape  garden route  eastern cape  kwazulu natal  mpumalanga  gauteng  limpopo  north west  free state  northern cape  |  namibia  |  botswana

South Africa Wildlife - Vervet Monkey - {Cercopithecus Aethiops} - Vervets rarely venture further than about 500 yards from ...

South Africa AccommodationCape Town AccommodationSouth Africa HotelsCape Town HotelsSüdafrika ReiseSüdafrika
Drakensberg AccommodationDTP OrbitAdvertiseContactSitemapCreditsCopyrightDisclaimerTravel Resources