Extended Field Guide for Monkeys and Prosimians at Chimp&See

This guide describes the monkey species and prosimians that you will encounter at Chimp&See. Please be aware that most species can only be found in certain regions or even only at specific sites, depending on the geographic range of the species.

Feel always free to hashtag any species you are certain about, but please ask for help if you are not quite sure!

Baboons

Baboons are medium-sized primates with a light-brownish fur and long, dog-like muzzles. Infants are born with a black coat. They are more terrestrial than other monkeys, have hairless dark faces, hands, and feet and powerful canines. We will see three species of baboon: guinea, olive, and yellow baboons – but usually only one species at a site.

Guinea Baboon (Papio papio)

Hashtag: #guinea_baboon

Guinea baboons have thick, orange-brown fur. Their faces have a purplish-black skin and a squared muzzle. Their rumps are bare and pinkish in color. Males have a mane, though sometimes subtle.

Geographic range: West Africa; research sites in region A only

 

Olive Baboon (Papio anubis)

Hashtag: #olive_baboon

These baboons have a greenish-gray fur. The skin on the rump and hairless face is dark grey-black. Adult males have pronounced manes, with long hair on the tops of their heads and shoulders.

Geographic range: From West Africa across equatorial Africa and extending southward to East Africa; research sites in regions A, B, C and D

 

Yellow Baboon (Papio cynocephalus)

Hashtag: #yellow_baboon

This baboon species has yellow-brown fur, with the characteristic dog-like, elongated muzzle typical of baboons. They also have a prominent brow ridge which is covered in yellow-grayish fur but the rest of the face is hairless. Rumps and face are blackish in color.

Geographic range: Central-East Africa; research sites in region D

Chlorocebus

Chlorocebus are semi-terrestrial savannah monkeys, reflected by their coat coloration. The members of this species group are medium-sized monkeys with light golden-brown to greenish-gray fur on the head, back and tail. The coat gets lighter from pale gray to white on chest and legs. Face, ears, hands and feet are generally dark and hairless, though lighter in younger individuals. The face has a ring of lighter fur from pale yellow to white around it.

We will see at Chimp&See

Hashtags: #green_monkey, #tantalus_monkey, #malbrouck_monkey, #vervet_monkey

Geographic range: Savannah grasslands in Sub-saharan Africa. The species assignment for Chlorocebus monkeys is by region only, i.e., each species will only be seen in the region indicated below.

Green monkey

Colobus

Angola colobus (Colobus Angolensis)

Hashtag: #angola_colobus

The Angola colobus has a glossy black coat with long white cheek-hairs and more long white hair at the shoulders (“epaulettes”). The tail tip is also white. The faces are dark and hairless and surrounded by various extends of white hair.

Geographic range: Central Africa; research sites in region D

 

Black colobus (Colobus satanas)

Hashtag: #black_colobus

The Black colobus is large, slender colobus monkey with plain black fur without any white markings. The long fur is present all over the body except for the face and ears, which are also black.

Geographic range: West Central Africa; research sites in region C

 

Guereza (Colobus guereza)

Hashtag: #guereza

The guereza, also known as Mantled Guereza or Eastern Black & White Colobus) is a large monkey with a glossy black coat and a white beard-like chin. It also has a striking “cape” of long flowing white hair on the sides of its back, and a fluff of white at the end of its tail. Infants are all white. They are primarily seen in trees, as opposed to on the ground.

Geographic range: West-Central & East Africa; research sites in region B, C, and D

 

King Colobus, or Western Black & White Colobus (Colobus polykomos)

Hashtag: #king_colobus

The king colobus is black with white accents, with very long fur. The face is black, with a halo of white fur around it that extends down the throat and chest, and the outside of the upper arm. The long tail is all white.

Geographic range: West Africa; research sites in region A

 

Olive Colobus (Procolobus verus)

Hashtag: #olive_colobus

The olive colobus is a smaller species, with dull greenish-brown fur on the back and lighter fur on the chest and stomach. They have a small crest on top of their head that sometimes looks like a center part, and their face is dark and hairless.

Geographic range: West Africa; research sites in region A

 

Red colobus (Procolobus tephrosceles)

Hashtag: #red_colobus

The Ugandan red colobus has a bright red cap and a dark grey face. Infants are born with black faces and lighter fur. The fur coloration is quite variable with a dark grey back and lighter legs and arms. The belly is light-grey to white. The tail is dark, as are hands and feet. Males are much larger than the females.

Geographic range: East Africa; research sites in region D

 

Western Red Colobus (Procolobus badius)

Hashtag: #western-red_colobus

The western red colobus is black and dark reddish brown. The limbs, belly, and throat are reddish brown, with black extending down the outside of the upper limbs. The tail is darker reddish brown. Its face is dark grey-ish. In the third example clip below, you can see, even when moving at a distance, the distinctive dark coloration as compared the sooty mangabeys that are also present.

Geographic range: West Africa; research sites in region A

 

Ursine colobus (Colobus vellerosus)

Hashtag: #ursine_colobus

The Ursine colobus, also called White-thighed colobus, is another black-and-white colobus. It has a black coat with a long, white tail and white fur on the upper part of the hind legs. The hairless dark face is framed by a ring of white, fluffy fur.

Geographic range: West Africa; research sites in region A

 

Gabon talapoin

Gabon talapoin (Miopithecus ogouensis)

Hashtag: #gabon_talapoin

Gabon talapoins are the smallest African monkeys with an olive-brownish to golden fur coloration. They have pinkish-colored, hairless faces, ears, and hands.

Geographic range: Central Africa; research sites in regions B and C

 

Guenons

Blue Monkey (Cercopithecus mitis)

Hashtag: #blue_monkey

Blue monkeys are large, with a grizzled gray to olive coloration. The face is dark and mostly hairless. They have a black "cap" on top of their head, and black forearms and hind feet. The tail is very long.

Geographic range: Central, East and South Africa; research sites in region C and D

 

Campbell's Mona Monkey (Cercopithecus campbelli)

Hashtag: #campbells_mona_monkey

Campbell’s mona monkey has dark gray fur along its back, arms, legs and tail. The underside, inside of the limbs, and cheeks are a light or white color. The top of the head and the shoulders are a lighter, more brown color. They have dark gray hands, feet, and hairless face with a pale pink mouth.

Geographic range: West Africa; research sites in region A

 

Crested mona monkey (Cercopithecus pogonias)

Hashtag: #crested_mona_monkey

Crested mona monkeys have a dark gray to lighter brownish-gray coats, with grayish-black lower arms and legs. Their undersides are lighter from orange-yellow to white. They have a crest running along the tops of their heads, usually with a black stripe down the middle. Their ear tufts are long and pointed.

Geographic range: Western Central to Central Africa; research sites in regions B, C, and D

De Brazza's monkey (Cercopithecus neglectus)

Hashtag: #de_brazzas_monkey

De Brazza's monkey has a distinctive facial coloring, with an orange patch above the eyebrows and a long, white beard. The rest of the body is gray, with the extremities and tail being darker.

Geographic range: Western Central to East Africa; research sites in regions B, C, and D

Dent's mona monkey (Cercopithecus denti)

Hashtag: #dents_mona_monkey

These mona monkeys have a dark brown back with darker arms and feet. The underbelly, throat, and the insides of the arms and legs are white. The tail is gray with a black tip. Their faces are dark with yellow-white tufts of fur on the cheeks and brow.

Geographic range: Central and East Africa; research sites in region D

 

Diana Monkey (Cercopithecus diana)

Hashtag: #diana_monkey

The diana monkey is black, with white and reddish brown accents. The throat, chest, and inside of the front legs are white. They also have a thin white line across the brow, and white stripe down the outside of both thighs. The lower back is a dark reddish brown, and the insides of the thighs are a light reddish brown.

Geographic range: West Africa; research sites in region A

 

L'Hoest's Monkey (Cercopithecus lhoesti)

Hashtag: #lhoests_monkey

The L’Hoest’s or Mountain Monkey, is mostly black with some grizzled gray, except for a reddish-brown ‘saddle’ on its back and a white beard covering its throat. It has long legs, and a long gray tail that tapers to a black tuft. The face is mostly hairless, with a lighter gray mask around the eyes, which may be orange or pale gray-violet. Males are up to twice the size of females, and have a bright blue scrotum.

Geographic range: Central-East Africa; research sites in region D

 

Lowe's mona monkey (Cercopithecus lowei)

Hashtag: #lowes_mona_monkey

Lowe's mona monkeys have a brownish-orange upper back and crown. The arms and legs are dark gray, turning to black at the hands and feet. The underbelly and insides of the arms and legs are white. The tail is lighter colored in the middle and turns to black at the tip. Their faces are dark with a lighter pink muzzle and a yellowish-orange brow.

Geographic range: West to Central Africa; research sites in region A

 

Mona Monkey (Cercopithecus mona)

Hashtag: #mona_monkey

Mona monkeys have a brown back turning into gray at the shoulders and limbs. The throat, belly, and inside all four legs are white. The face is white with black masks around the eyes. They have white patches of fur at the hips.

Geographic range: Western Central Africa, research sites in region B

 

Moustached guenon (Cercopithecus cephus)

Hashtag: #moustached_guenon

The moustached guenon has a strip of white on its upper lip; the face coloration is blue otherwise. The fur is olive-colored, becoming darker on the front limbs, with yellow fur on the cheeks and ears. The tail is reddish with a light underside.

Geographic range: Western Central Africa, research sites in region B and C

 

Preuss’s monkey (Allochrocebus preussi)

Hashtag: #preuss_monkey

The Preuss’s monkey has a reddish-brown back, dark charcoal-colored limbs and lighter gray shoulders and heads. The hairless face is dark with white fur on the throat. The tail grows gradually darker toward the tip. Preuss’s monkeys often hold their tail upward and curved when standing.

Geographic range: Western Central Africa, research sites in region B

 

Red-eared monkey (Cercopithecus erythrotis)

Hashtag: #red-eared_monkey

The Red-eared monkey, also called the Red-nosed monkey, has a dark brown to mottled gray coat. The inner limbs and the belly are white. The face is hairless with a slightly blue tinge. The ears, nose, and tail are bright red, and the cheek hairs are long and white.

Geographic range: Western Central Africa, research sites in region B

 

Red-tailed Monkey, or Red-tailed Guenon (Cercopithecus ascanius)

Hashtag: #red-tailed_monkey

Red-tailed monkeys have speckled brownish fur, with a long reddish brown tail. The face is mostly black, with a white nose and white fur on the cheeks. The white cheeks can help differentiate this species from the lesser spot-nosed when seen from a distance. Males are larger than females.

Geographic range: Central Africa; research sites in region D

 

Greater Spot-nosed Monkey, or Putty-nosed Guenon (Cercopithecus nictitans)

Hashtag: #spot-nosed_monkey

The greater spot-nosed monkey is black to olive, with white accents, the most notable being the bright white nose. There are two subspecies, one has a white throat, the other does not.

Distribution: West Africa; research sites in regions A, B, and C

 

Lesser Spot-nosed Monkey (Cercopithecus petaurista)

Hashtag: #spot-nosed_monkey

The lesser spot-nosed monkey is a dark olive-brown on the back, and white underneath. They have black faces with a white nose, a white stripe below the ear, and a white ark above the ear. The throat, belly, and inside all four legs are white. The outside of the legs darkens to gray-black on the lower limbs.

Geographic range: West Africa; research sites in region A

 

Sun-tailed monkey (Allochrocebus solatus)

Hashtag: #sun-tailed_monkey

The sun-tailed monkey has a long tail, that turns from a dark gray near the base to a light orange at the tip. They have dark faces, dark gray fur on most of their bodies, with lighter reddish-brown fur along their backs.

Geographic range: Western Central Africa; research sites in region C

 

Mandrillus

Drills (Mandrillus leucophaeus)

Hashtag: #drill

Drills look very similar to mandrills, but are much smaller. Their coats have a dark grey to brown color. They have black ridges along their long muzzles, and the males have a pink stripe along the lower lip/chin. Males also have a rump that can be pink, light purple, and blue. Their very short tails stand high.

Geographic range: Western Central Africa; research sites in regions B and C

Mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx)

Hashtag: #mandrill

Mandrills are large monkeys with dark olive or gray fur on the back, and light-colored fur on the chest. They have long faces with red noses and blue striped cheeks. Their rumps are similarly colorful, with shades of pink, blue, and red. Females are smaller, and both females and juveniles show more subtle coloration. Also, unlike most other monkeys, the mandrill's tail is very short -- only a few inches in length.

Geographic range: Central Africa; research sites in regions C

 

Mangabeys

Agile mangabey (Cercocebus agilis)

Hashtag: #agile_mangabey

Agile mangabeys have short, light olive-colored to greyish fur. The belly and inner limbs are lighter. The face is black and naked, as are hands and feet. Some small white tufts of hair are seen at the cheeks and forehead.

Geographic range: Central-East Africa; research sites in region D

 

Grey-cheeked mangabey (Lophocebus albigena)

Hashtag: #grey-cheeked_mangabey

Grey-cheeked mangabeys have predominantly blackish fur, with a very long tail that is often held vertically when standing. They have a greyish-light brown mantle (“mane”) of long hair extending from the neck to the shoulders. The black face is naked, only the cheeks are very thinly haired. Females have a distinctive pink swelling when in oestrus.

Geographic range: Central and East Africa; research sites in regions B, C, and D

 

Red-capped mangabey (Cercocebus torquatus)

Hashtag: #red-capped_mangabey

The red-capped mangabey, also known as collared mangabey, has reddish-brown fur on the top of its head, with white fur on the sides. The rest of the body is dark gray, with lighter fur on the underside and a dark face. The tail is dark gray with a white tip.

Geographic range: Western Central and Central Africa; research sites in regions B and C

 

Sooty Mangabey (Cercocebus atys)

Hashtag: #sooty_mangabey

The sooty mangabey has a gray coat, occasionally with brown tinge. The belly is lighter, the hands and feet are darker. The face is grayish pink, bare of fur except for bushy sideburn like whiskers. They have white upper eyelids. The muzzle is darker, varying with age and individuals, sometimes almost black.

Geographic range: West Africa; research sites in region A

 

White-naped mangabey (Cercocebus lunulatus)

Hashtag: #white-naped_mangabey

The coat of the white-naped mangabey is dark gray while the underside is light gray or white. There is a patch of white fur on the nape of the neck or back of the head, and below that is a long, thin band of darker fur that travels the length of the body.

Geographic range: West Africa; research sites in region A

 

Patas Monkey

Patas Monkey (Erythrocebus patas)

Hashtag: #patas_monkey

The patas monkey is light reddish-brown from the top of their head down the back of their body and their long slender tail. The face, chest and legs are a light to medium gray. They usually have a distinctive black line of fur at the brow line that may extend toward the ears on either side. Males are much larger, with more dramatic coloration and a mane. It is the fastest-running primate, and as such, is normally see on the ground.

Geographic range: Savannah grasslands only. West, Central, and East Africa; research sites in region A and B

 

Prosimians

Prosimians are small, nocturnal animals and part of a more primitive group of primates, along with lemurs.

Angwantibo (Arctocebus spp.)

Hashtag: #angwantibo, #calabar_angwantibo, #golden_angwantibo

Angwantibos are small nocturnal primates with short limbs, roundish heads, and short ears. They move rather slowly. Angwantibos have a woolly reddish-brown to golden fur and a very short tail. They are similar to pottos, but much smaller and with a longer muzzle. The hands are missing the second digit and the third is reduced, too. There are two species, the Calabar angwantibo (region B only) and the Golden angwantibo (region C only).

Geographic range: Central-West and Central Africa; research sites in regions B and C.

Galago (Galago spp.)

Hashtag: #galago

There are different species of galagos, also called bushbabies, at Chimp&See, but we don’t differentiate between them. Galagos are nocturnal, so the first you may see are large round eyes glowing from a tree. They are very small and furry, with round prominent ears and a fur-covered tail that is longer than the body. They climb and jump exceptionally well.

Geographic range: West, Central and East Africa; research sites in regions A, B, C, and D

 

Potto (Perodicticus potto)

Hashtag: #potto

The potto is another nocturnal primate. It has a short tail, thick fur, large round eyes and lobster-claw like hands that it uses to grasp branches. It climbs slowly through the tree canopy, rather than jumping, and is rarely, if ever, on the ground.

Geographic range: West, Central and East Africa; research sites in regions A, B, C, and D

Get involved and know your primates! Visit Chimp&See at www.chimpandsee.org!