Mammals · Primates · Cercopithecidae

Putty-nosed Monkey

Cercopithecus nictitans

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The putty-nosed monkey is a primate of the forests of the Gulf of Guinea, recognisable by the large oval white patch on its nose against a dark coat. It lives in groups of one male and several females high in the canopy, and often forms associations with mangabeys and colobus monkeys. Its vocal repertoire has been the subject of much-cited studies on the combination of signals, one of the most debated animal precedents for syntax.

Weight

4 kg – 8 kg

Size

45 cm – 70 cm

Lifespan

25 years

Diet

Omnivore

Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

RainforestOmnivore Diurnal Rainforest Mammal

21countries 22parks44same family

Fun facts

The males combine two distinct alarm calls into sequences that mean something different from what they mean separately: it is one of the most cited examples of protosyntax in a non-human animal.
Its cheek pouches can hold as much fruit as its stomach, which lets it strip a contested tree quickly and withdraw to eat without competition.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: The canopy of primary rainforest and mature secondary forest of west-central Africa
Sexual maturity: 4 years
Gestation / incubation: 5.7 months
Litter / clutch size: 1

Sources consulted: https://www.iucnredlist.org/ | https://animaldiversity.org/ | https://es.wikipedia.org/