Patas Monkey

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Patas Monkey

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Primates
Family:	Cercopithecidae
Genus:	Erythrocebus Trouessart, 1897
Species:	E. patas

Binomial name

Erythrocebus patas
Schreber, 1775

The Patas Monkey (Erythrocebus patas) is a ground-dwelling monkey distributed over West Africa. It is the only species classified in the genus Erythrocebus. Patas monkeys avoid woodlands and live in treeless savanna and semi-deserts. The Patas Monkey grows to 85 cm in length, excluding the tail, which measures 75 cm. Reaching speeds of 50 km/h, it is the fastest runner among the primates.

This monkey lives in groups of about twelve individuals. There is a lose matrilineal dominance rank. The group contains just one pubescent male. Once juvenile males reach sexual maturity (around the age of 4 years old) they leave the group. The monkeys feed on insects, seeds and tubers.

There are two subspecies: the western Erythrocebus patas patas (Common Patas) and the eastern Erythrocebus patas pyrrhonotus (Nisnas). The Nisnas has a white nose, while the nose of the Common Patas Monkey is black.

[edit] References

Butynski et al (2000). Erythrocebus patas. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006.
Groves, Colin (16 November 2005). in Wilson, D. E., and Reeder, D. M. (eds): Mammal Species of the World, 3rd edition, Johns Hopkins University Press, 160. ISBN 0-801-88221-4.