Mammals · Primates · Cercopithecidae

Mona Monkey

Cercopithecus mona

Near Threatened

It could become endangered in the near future if current threats go unchecked. See full glossary

The mona monkey is a primate of the West African forests, with a reddish-chestnut back, black legs and tail and two very visible white patches on either side of the rump. It lives in groups in the canopy and eats fruit, leaves and insects. It was carried on the slave ships to the Antilles, and on the Caribbean island of Grenada there has been a feral population descended from those animals for centuries.

Weight

3 kg – 6 kg

Size

40 cm – 63 cm

Lifespan

30 years

Diet

Omnivore

Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Sighting difficulty

Moderate

RainforestOmnivore Diurnal Near Threatened Rainforest Mammal

23countries 11parks44same family

Fun facts

There is a feral population on the island of Grenada, in the Caribbean, descended from animals carried on slave ships from West Africa more than three hundred years ago.
Its cheek pouches can hold as much fruit as its stomach, and it is often seen with its cheeks bulging with the haul as it flees a contested tree.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Rainforest, gallery forest, mangrove and secondary forest of West Africa
Sexual maturity: 4 years
Gestation / incubation: 5.5 months
Litter / clutch size: 1

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cercopithecus_mona