Mammals · Primates · Cercopithecidae

Grivet

Chlorocebus aethiops

Least Concern

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

The grivet belongs to the vervet group, a set of savannah monkeys widespread across Africa and of disputed taxonomy. It lives in troops of several dozen animals with matrilineal hierarchies and spends much of its time on the ground, though it sleeps and takes refuge in trees. It is omnivorous and opportunistic, which makes it a regular visitor to crops and villages. Its communication system is one of the most studied in the entire animal kingdom.

Weight

3 kg – 8 kg

Size

40 cm – 60 cm

Lifespan

25 years

Diet

Omnivore

Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

SavannaTemperate forestGrasslandOmnivore Diurnal Savanna Temperate forest Grassland Mammal

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Fun facts

The classic studies on this group of monkeys showed that they have different alarm calls for leopard, eagle and snake, and that each triggers a specific response: climbing a tree, looking up or looking down. It was one of the first solid pieces of evidence for referential communication in a non-human animal.
Young males leave their natal group on reaching maturity, while females stay for life in the group where they were born.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Wooded savannah, gallery forest and crop margins of north-eastern Africa
Sexual maturity: 2.8 years
Gestation / incubation: 5.3 months
Litter / clutch size: 1

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