oLD AND nEW wORLD mONKEYS
The following characteristics apply to all Old and New World Monkeys:
- Body size is generally larger
- Larger brain in relation to body weight
- Reduced dependence on smell
- Increased dependence of vision, eyes are in front of the face.
- Greater depth perception and colour vision
- Post-orbital plate
- Fusion of the mandibular symphysis
- Blood supply to the brain is different
- No dental comb, more generalized dentition
- Female reproductive anatomy is different
- Gestation and maturation periods are longer with an increase in parental care
- Increased grooming behaviour
oLD wORLD mONKEYS
bLACK AND WHITE COLOBUS MONKEYS
Common name: Black and white colobus monkey
Scientific name: Colobus guereza Suborder: Haplorhini Infraorder: Anthropoidea Parvorder: Catarrhini Superfamily: Cercopithecoidae Family: Colobine |
|
Distribution: The colobus monkey is widely distributed throughout Africa including Senegal, Ethiopia, Angola, Zaire, Tazania and Malawi (Napier and Napier 1985).
Tail: Yes.
Mode of locomotion: These monkeys are arboreal quadrapeds, and have an intermembral index of 79. On occasion they may semi-brachiate through the trees, which is not seen in the cercopithecine family.
Size and weight: Males are slightly longer and heavier than females. The average male is approximately 9 to 13.5 kg and females are between 7 and 10 kg (Kavanaugh 1983).
Diet: The black and white colobus monkey primarily consumes mature leaves, fruits, flowers, and woody twigs (Napier and Napier 1985).
Dental formula: 2:1:2:3
Social life: The social group can be defined as single male, multi-female or multi-male multi-female. A single troop may contain between 3 to 15 individuals. Mixture between groups is uncommon and usually leads to aggression. For most of the day, the black and white colobus are inactive and this has been associated to their complex digestive system (Napier and Napier 1985).
Diurnal/nocturnal: Diurnal
Unique characteristics:
Taken from (Jurmain et al. 2011-2012)
Tail: Yes.
Mode of locomotion: These monkeys are arboreal quadrapeds, and have an intermembral index of 79. On occasion they may semi-brachiate through the trees, which is not seen in the cercopithecine family.
Size and weight: Males are slightly longer and heavier than females. The average male is approximately 9 to 13.5 kg and females are between 7 and 10 kg (Kavanaugh 1983).
Diet: The black and white colobus monkey primarily consumes mature leaves, fruits, flowers, and woody twigs (Napier and Napier 1985).
Dental formula: 2:1:2:3
Social life: The social group can be defined as single male, multi-female or multi-male multi-female. A single troop may contain between 3 to 15 individuals. Mixture between groups is uncommon and usually leads to aggression. For most of the day, the black and white colobus are inactive and this has been associated to their complex digestive system (Napier and Napier 1985).
Diurnal/nocturnal: Diurnal
Unique characteristics:
- No cheek pouches which are seen in cercopithecines
- Enlarged stomach that is divided into several compartments for the digestion of mature foliage.
- The molar teeth have high cusps and sharp crests to shred/slice mature leaves
Taken from (Jurmain et al. 2011-2012)
Chacma Baboon
Common name: Chacma baboon
Scientific name: Papio ursinus Suborder: Haplorhini Infraorder: Anthropoidea Parvorder: Catarrhini Superfamily: Cercopithecoidae Family: Cercopithecinae |
|
Species: There are four other species of baboon that include: Papio papio (Guinea baboon), Papio anubis (Olive baboon), Papio cynocephalus (Yellow baboon) and Papio hamadryas (Hamadryas baboon).
Distribution: The Chacma baboons are found in sub-Saharan Africa. The other four species are located throughout the continent of Africa and Southern Asia.Habitat: This includes a variety of areas such as woodland savana, grasslands and acacia scrub (Napier and Napier 1985).
Tail: Yes.
Mode of locomotion: Baboons are terrestrial quadrapeds and spend most of their time on the ground. In order to avoid predation, they sleep either in the trees or on the edge of cliffs at night. They have an intermembral index of 95, which means that their forelimbs are virtually the same length as their hindlimbs.
Size and weight: Sexual dimorphism between males and females is distinct with regards to body size, shape, and canine length. Generally, males are taller, heavier and have larger canines than females. The average height of a male is 1.4m and weight 30kg, whereas the average height of a female is 1.1m and weight is 16kg.
Diet: They are omnivorous and consume a variety of foods such as berries, fruits, seeds, bud, eggs, birds, insects, small mammals, roots and tubers (Napier and Napier 1985).
Dental formula: 2:1:2:3
Social life: The social group can be defined as multi-male multi-female. Troops can grow as large as 200 animals, but on average are around 40 to 80 individuals (Napier and Napier 1985). A troop spends most of its time grooming, eating, and sleeping. Grooming behaviour is important for establishing group cohesion and diffusing violence.
Diurnal/nocturnal: Diurnal
Unique characteristics:
Taken from (Jurmain et al. 2011-2012)
Distribution: The Chacma baboons are found in sub-Saharan Africa. The other four species are located throughout the continent of Africa and Southern Asia.Habitat: This includes a variety of areas such as woodland savana, grasslands and acacia scrub (Napier and Napier 1985).
Tail: Yes.
Mode of locomotion: Baboons are terrestrial quadrapeds and spend most of their time on the ground. In order to avoid predation, they sleep either in the trees or on the edge of cliffs at night. They have an intermembral index of 95, which means that their forelimbs are virtually the same length as their hindlimbs.
Size and weight: Sexual dimorphism between males and females is distinct with regards to body size, shape, and canine length. Generally, males are taller, heavier and have larger canines than females. The average height of a male is 1.4m and weight 30kg, whereas the average height of a female is 1.1m and weight is 16kg.
Diet: They are omnivorous and consume a variety of foods such as berries, fruits, seeds, bud, eggs, birds, insects, small mammals, roots and tubers (Napier and Napier 1985).
Dental formula: 2:1:2:3
Social life: The social group can be defined as multi-male multi-female. Troops can grow as large as 200 animals, but on average are around 40 to 80 individuals (Napier and Napier 1985). A troop spends most of its time grooming, eating, and sleeping. Grooming behaviour is important for establishing group cohesion and diffusing violence.
Diurnal/nocturnal: Diurnal
Unique characteristics:
- Secondary snouts - these elongated noses give baboons a "dog-like" appearance.
- Ischial callosities - hardened skin on the buttocks that serve as sitting pads
Taken from (Jurmain et al. 2011-2012)
Vervet Monkey
Common name: Vervet monkey
Scientific name: Cercopithecus aethiops Suborder: Haplorhini Infraorder: Anthropodidea Parvorder: Catarrhini Superfamily: Cercopithecoidae |
Species: There are seven other species of guenons in the old world and include: Cercopithecus diana, Cercopithecus neglectus, Cercopithecus hamlyni, Cercopithecus ihoesti, Cercopithecus mitis, Cercopithecus cephus and Cercopithecus mona (Napier and Napier 1985).
Other monkeys within this group but outside of South Africa include the savanna monkey, green monkey, grivet, and tantalus monkey (Napier and Napier 1985).
Distribution: Cercopithecus aethiops can be found in the savannahs and woodlands throughout most of Africa from Senegal, Sudan, Ethiopia and South Africa.
Tail: Yes.
Mode of locomotion: These monkeys are arboreal quadrapeds, but most Cercopithecus aethiops species are adapted to spending a large amount of time on the ground (Napier and Napier 1985).
Size and weight: They are slightly larger than the capuchin monkey.
Diet: Vervet monkeys are omnivorous and consume fruits, flowers, young birds, eggs, insects and invertebrates. They have a digestive tract similar to humans, which permits them to consume and efficiently digest a variety of foodstuffs, excluding mature leaves (Kavanaugh 1983).
Dental formula: 2:1:2:3
Social life: The social group can be defined as multi-male multi-female. Similar to the baboon, they are highly gregarious and social with grooming and play behavoir being commonly displayed.
Diurnal/nocturnal: Diurnal
Unique characteristics: The chest and scrotum sack of the dominant males turns a pale, powder blue colour that is most prominent during mating season.
Taken from (Jurmain et al. 2011-2012)
Other monkeys within this group but outside of South Africa include the savanna monkey, green monkey, grivet, and tantalus monkey (Napier and Napier 1985).
Distribution: Cercopithecus aethiops can be found in the savannahs and woodlands throughout most of Africa from Senegal, Sudan, Ethiopia and South Africa.
Tail: Yes.
Mode of locomotion: These monkeys are arboreal quadrapeds, but most Cercopithecus aethiops species are adapted to spending a large amount of time on the ground (Napier and Napier 1985).
Size and weight: They are slightly larger than the capuchin monkey.
Diet: Vervet monkeys are omnivorous and consume fruits, flowers, young birds, eggs, insects and invertebrates. They have a digestive tract similar to humans, which permits them to consume and efficiently digest a variety of foodstuffs, excluding mature leaves (Kavanaugh 1983).
Dental formula: 2:1:2:3
Social life: The social group can be defined as multi-male multi-female. Similar to the baboon, they are highly gregarious and social with grooming and play behavoir being commonly displayed.
Diurnal/nocturnal: Diurnal
Unique characteristics: The chest and scrotum sack of the dominant males turns a pale, powder blue colour that is most prominent during mating season.
Taken from (Jurmain et al. 2011-2012)
New World Monkey
Common Marmoset
Common name: Common marmoset
Scientific name: Callithrix jacchus Suborder: Haplorhini Infraorder: Anthropoidea Parvorder: Platyrrhini Superfamily: Ateloidea Family: Cebidae |
|
Species: There are two other species of marmosets, which includes Callithrix argentata (silvery marmoset aka black marmoset and bare-eared marmoset) and Callithrix humeralifer (santarem marmoset).
Distribution: The Amazon basin of Eastern Brazil and parts of Eastern Bolivia.
Habitat: They have been found in tropical rain forests, woodland savannahs and dry scrub forest.
Tail: Yes
Mode of locomotion: Marmosets are arboreal quadrapeds and have an intermembral index of 75.
Size and weight: They are between 210mm to 295mm in length and weigh approximately 370grams (Kavanaugh 1983, Napier and Napier 1985).
Dental formula: 2:1:3:2
Diet: These monkeys are primarily insectivorous, but supplement much of their diet with tree gum and fruit.
Social life: They live in a monogamous unit that consists of a mated pair and their offspring. Marmosets are the only monkeys in which the father and older sibling take an activity role in caring for newborn infants.
Diurnal/nocturnal: Diurnal
Unique characteristics: Unique characteristics to this species include nails instead of claws on all digits (except the big toe), twin births, and a large amount of male investment in the offspring (Napier and Napier 1985; Jurmain et al. 2003:119)
Taken from (Jurmain et al. 2011-2012)
Distribution: The Amazon basin of Eastern Brazil and parts of Eastern Bolivia.
Habitat: They have been found in tropical rain forests, woodland savannahs and dry scrub forest.
Tail: Yes
Mode of locomotion: Marmosets are arboreal quadrapeds and have an intermembral index of 75.
Size and weight: They are between 210mm to 295mm in length and weigh approximately 370grams (Kavanaugh 1983, Napier and Napier 1985).
Dental formula: 2:1:3:2
Diet: These monkeys are primarily insectivorous, but supplement much of their diet with tree gum and fruit.
Social life: They live in a monogamous unit that consists of a mated pair and their offspring. Marmosets are the only monkeys in which the father and older sibling take an activity role in caring for newborn infants.
Diurnal/nocturnal: Diurnal
Unique characteristics: Unique characteristics to this species include nails instead of claws on all digits (except the big toe), twin births, and a large amount of male investment in the offspring (Napier and Napier 1985; Jurmain et al. 2003:119)
Taken from (Jurmain et al. 2011-2012)
White faced capuchin
Common name: White faced capuchin
Scientific name: Cebus capuchinus Suborder: Haplorhini Infraorder: Anthropodiea Parvorder: Platyrrhini Superfamily: Ateloidea Family: Cebidae |
|
Species: Three other species of capuchins that include: Cebus apella (Black capped capuchin), Cebus albifrons (Brown pale-fronted capuchin) and Cebus nigrivittatus (Weeper capuchin) (Napier and Napier 1985).
Distribution: Central and South America. The four species of capuchins are the widest ranging monkey in the New World.
Habitat: They can be found in trees in both the tropical and montane forests (Napier and Napier 1985).
Tail: Yes. The tail is also prehensile.
Mode of locomotion: These monkeys are arboreal quadrapeds. They have an intermembral index of 81, which implies that their arms are slightly shorter than their legs.
Size and weight: Males are slightly larger than females with an average weight of 3.3kg and females 2.6kg. From head to tail, they are approximately 450mm long and when compared to other monkeys such as the small squirrel monkey or the large howler monkey are considered to be medium within the cebidae family.
Diet: These monkeys are primarily frugivorous, which means that fruit is the basis for their diet. According to Napier and Napier (1985:114) the recorded "diet of C.capucinus in Panama (Central America) consisted of 65% fruit, 15% leaves and 20% insects."
Dental formula: 2:1:3:3
Social life: The social group is multi-male and multi female. The average troop is between 6 and 30 individuals. During the day, they spread out over several hundred meters through the forest canopy. At night, they usually sleep in groups of three or four individuals in the nook of trees (Napier and Napier 1985). Fights between males and/or females over territory seldom occur.
Diurnal/nocturnal: Diurnal
Unique Characteristics: Capuchins have the largest brain to body ratio of all New World monkeys and are considered to be the most intelligent Cebidae. Primatologists believe that the successful radiation and adaptation of capuchins in Central and South America can be attributed to their superior intelligence (Napier and Napier 1985). Tool use among capuchin monkeys has been commonly observed during feeding and self-defence. During feeding, these monkeys have been observed to place a palm nut on a rock, smash the nut with another rock and collect the meat from inside (video). In Costa Rica, a wild white-faced capuchin used a branch to repeatedly bash a venomous snake to death. In another act of self-defence, the same monkey "threw a squirrel monkey (Saimiri oerstedi) at an observer after depleting the supply of readily detachable branches (Boinski 1988:178)."
Taken from (Jurmain et al 2011-2012)
Distribution: Central and South America. The four species of capuchins are the widest ranging monkey in the New World.
Habitat: They can be found in trees in both the tropical and montane forests (Napier and Napier 1985).
Tail: Yes. The tail is also prehensile.
Mode of locomotion: These monkeys are arboreal quadrapeds. They have an intermembral index of 81, which implies that their arms are slightly shorter than their legs.
Size and weight: Males are slightly larger than females with an average weight of 3.3kg and females 2.6kg. From head to tail, they are approximately 450mm long and when compared to other monkeys such as the small squirrel monkey or the large howler monkey are considered to be medium within the cebidae family.
Diet: These monkeys are primarily frugivorous, which means that fruit is the basis for their diet. According to Napier and Napier (1985:114) the recorded "diet of C.capucinus in Panama (Central America) consisted of 65% fruit, 15% leaves and 20% insects."
Dental formula: 2:1:3:3
Social life: The social group is multi-male and multi female. The average troop is between 6 and 30 individuals. During the day, they spread out over several hundred meters through the forest canopy. At night, they usually sleep in groups of three or four individuals in the nook of trees (Napier and Napier 1985). Fights between males and/or females over territory seldom occur.
Diurnal/nocturnal: Diurnal
Unique Characteristics: Capuchins have the largest brain to body ratio of all New World monkeys and are considered to be the most intelligent Cebidae. Primatologists believe that the successful radiation and adaptation of capuchins in Central and South America can be attributed to their superior intelligence (Napier and Napier 1985). Tool use among capuchin monkeys has been commonly observed during feeding and self-defence. During feeding, these monkeys have been observed to place a palm nut on a rock, smash the nut with another rock and collect the meat from inside (video). In Costa Rica, a wild white-faced capuchin used a branch to repeatedly bash a venomous snake to death. In another act of self-defence, the same monkey "threw a squirrel monkey (Saimiri oerstedi) at an observer after depleting the supply of readily detachable branches (Boinski 1988:178)."
Taken from (Jurmain et al 2011-2012)