Vervet Monkey - {Cercopithecus Aethiops}

Different 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.

Quick Facts

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.