Blue Monkey
Taxonomy and Description
The Blue Monkey (Cercopithecus mitis) is a species of Old World monkeys native to Central and East Africa, ranging from the upper Congo River basin east to the East African Rift and south to northern Angola and Zambia. It sometimes includes Sykes', Silver, and Golden monkeys as subspecies.
The Blue Monkey is not actually blue, but gets its name from the blueish hue of its coat, which can range from dark grey to dark brown. The face is hairless and dark, with a white band across the forehead. The cheeks are whiskered and the throat and chest are white.
Habitat and Distribution
Blue Monkeys prefer dense forests and woodland areas, and are also found in bamboo forests and mountain forests up to elevations of 4000 meters. They are both arboreal (tree-dwelling) and terrestrial (ground-dwelling), and are known to be one of the most widespread primates in Africa.
Diet and Behavior
Blue Monkeys are omnivores, with a diet that consists mainly of fruits and insects. They are also known to eat leaves, flowers, and twigs. They are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day, and they live in social groups of up to 40 individuals, led by a single male.
Reproduction and Lifespan
Female Blue Monkeys reach sexual maturity at around 5 years of age, while males mature slightly later. The gestation period is approximately 5 months, after which a single offspring is born. The average lifespan of a Blue Monkey in the wild is 20 years, but they can live up to 30 years in captivity.
Conservation Status
The Blue Monkey is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. However, they are threatened by habitat loss due to deforestation and hunting for bushmeat.