Vervet Monkey

The Vervet Monkey, sometimes simply known as the Vervet, is the common name of the species Chlorocebus pygerythrus, an Old World monkey in the family Cercopithecidae. (The common term "vervet" is also sometimes used to refer to all the members of the genus Chlorocebus.)

The Vervet Monkey ranges throughout much of Southern and East Africa, being found from Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan and south to South Africa. It is not found west of the Great Rift Valley or Luangwa River, where replaced by the closely related Malbrouck (C. cynosuros). The two have often been considered conspecific, or considered subspecies of a widespread C. aethiops. The Vervet Monkey inhabits savanna lands and mountains up to 4000 m (13,100 ft.).

Description

Males vary in size from 45 to 85 cm (18-34 in.), and weigh between 3.5 to 7.5 kg (7.5-16.5 lbs.), while females, range from 40 to 60 cm (16-24 in) in size and between 2.5 to 5.5 kg (5.5-12 lbs.) in weight. Both have tail lengths that can vary from 50 to 115 cm. The pigmentation of the male Vervet Monkey's scrotum is a vivid blue that pales when the animal falls in social rank. The hydration of the scrotal skin controls its color.

Behaviour

The Vervet Monkey is definitely frugivorous, but it also supplements its diet with a variety of other foods, including leaves, seeds, insects and small rodents. It has been known to destroy crops in Kenya.

It commonly lives in groups or "troops" of 20 or more, however the size of the group is often smaller than 20. Its gestation period is 7 months with a single offspring produced and is known to have a life span of up to 20 years.

The Vervet Monkey has three alarm calls, depending on the different types of threats to the community. There are distinct calls to warn of invading leopards, snakes, and eagles. In making an alarm call, a monkey attracts attention to themselves, increasing their personal chance of being attacked, an example of altruistic behaviour.

Classification

There are five distinct subspecies of Vervet Monkeys: Chlorocebus pygerythrus hilgerti
Chlorocebus pygerythrus excubitor
Chlorocebus pygerythrus nesiotes
Chlorocebus pygerythrus rufoviridis
Chlorocebus pygerythrus pygerythrus

Protection & Conservation

Although non-human primates in South Africa are listed on C.I.T.E.S Appendix 2, as a species that could become threatened if populations are not monitored, these species are not monitored and their true status remains unknown.

In spite of low predator populations in many areas where human development has encroached on wild territories, this species is killed by electricity pylons, vehicles, dogs, pellet guns, poison and bullets and is trapped for traditional medicine, bush meat and for biomedical research. The vervet monkey has a complexed and fragile social system - their persecution is thought to have impacted on troop structures and diminishing numbers.

According to recent distribution maps, the vervet monkey is quickly disappearing in the Western Cape of South Africa where they are heavily persecuted. The [http://www.primates.org.za Darwin Primate Group] is the only rescue and rehabilitation centre for vervets in this province with their primary goals being to find methods for humans and wildlife to co-exist, to educate the public so that the severe persecution of monkeys and baboons in this province is confronted, and to help injured and orphaned vervet monkeys in need. The centre has a volunteer program to help with its goals.

The Vervet monkey foundation in South Africa is working on conservation and protection of the Vervet Monkey. The foundation makes use of volunteer workers from western countries.

There is also an invasive breeding population in Florida. It is believed that they escaped from the Tarzan Set in the 1950's, or possibly a road show.

In ancient history

This species was known in ancient Egypt including the Red Sea Mountains and the Nile Valley. From fresco artworks found in Akrotiri on the Mediterranean island of Santorini there is evidence that the Vervet Monkey was known to the inhabitants of this settlement around 2000 BC; this fact is most noted for evidence of early contact between Egypt and Akrotiri.

Translation of "Vervet Monkey"

Breton: Verved, German: Südliche Grünmeerkatze, Spanish: Chlorocebus pygerythrus, Italian: Chlorocebus pygerythrus, Polish: Koczkodan tumbili.