Chlorocebus sabaceus
Chlorocebus aethiops
Chlorocebus djamdjamensis
Chlorocebus tantalus
Chlorocebus pygerythrus
Chlorocebus cynosuros The vervet monkeys or green monkeys are primates from the family of Old World monkeys. There are six species currently recognized, although some classify them all as a single species with six subspecies. Either way, they make up the entirety of the genus Chlorocebus.

These monkeys are found only in sub-Saharan Africa; their range extends from Senegal and Ethiopia down to South Africa. A small population, which travelled with enslaved Africans as a pet, lives on the Caribbean island of Saint Kitts.

The top side of the fur of the vervet monkeys appears grey-green, while the lower portion and the hair ring around the face is whitish yellow. The face is hairless and black. Vervet monkeys reach aan adult size of from 40 to 60 cm, with a tail measuring 30 to 50 cm long, and can weigh from 3 to 7 kg. The males are somewhat larger than the females.

Unlinke the closely related guenons vervets are not forest dwellers, rather, they prefer open areas such as savannah. However they must drink each day and are dependent on water, so they are never far from rivers or lakes. Although they can climb well, they are live most of their life on the ground. They are diurnal, and are particularly active in the early morning and in the later afternoon or early evening.

Green monkeys live in large groups, which can consist of some males, many females and their offspring and can be as large as 80 animals. The group hierarchy plays an important role: dominant factor male and females are given priority in the search for food, and they are groomed by subordinate members of the group. While young males must leave their group once they are fully mature, females remain and take on the role of their mothers in their group. These monkeys are territorial animals, and a group can occupy an area of approximately 0.1 to 1 km². They use a variety of sounds, with which they warn off members of other groups from their territory. Also facial expressions and body posturing serve as additional communication tools.

Vervet monkeys are omnivores. The majority of their diet, however, is grasses and fruits. Occasionally they also eat small vertebrates and insects.

In order to signal mating readiness, the female presents her vulva to the male. Since groups are made of several more females than males, each male mates with several females. Males do not take part in rasing the young, but other females of the group (the "aunties") take part in sharing the burden. The dominance hierarchy also comes into play here, as the offsprig of the more dominant group members get preferrential treatment. The gestation time is about 160 days, and births are typically of a single young. The births usually happen at the beginning of the rainy season, when there is sufficient food available. The young are weaned at about 6 months of age and are fully mature in 2 to 3 years. The life expectancy of the green monkeys is 30 years.

Species

• Genus Chlorocebus
  • Green Monkey , Chlorocebus sabaceus
  • Grivet , Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Bale Mountains Vervet , Chlorocebus djamdjamensis
  • Tantalus Monkey , Chlorocebus tantalus
    • Chlorocebus tantalus tantalus
    • Chlorocebus tantalus budgetti
    • Chlorocebus tantalus marrensis
  • Vervet Monkey, Chlorocebus pygerythrus
  • Malbrouck , Chlorocebus cynosuros

External link

• Barbados Wildlife: Green Monkeys