Cercopithecinae
Encyclopedia
The Cercopithecinae are a subfamily of the Old World monkey
s, that includes in its roughly 71 species the baboon
s, the macaque
s and the vervet monkey
s. Most cercopithecine monkeys are limited to sub-Saharan Africa
, although the macaques range from the far eastern parts of Asia
through northern Africa
as well as on Gibraltar
.
species are stockier and their tail can be small or completely nonexistent. All species have well-developed thumbs. Some species have ischial callosities, which can change their colour during mating period.
These monkeys are diurnal
and live together in social groups. They live in all types of terrain and climate, from cool mountains to rain forests, savanna
h, bald rocky areas or even snowy mountains, like the Japanese Macaque
.
Most species are omnivorous with diets ranging from fruits, leaves, seeds, buds, mushrooms to insects and spiders to smaller vertebrates.
Gestation lasts approximately six to seven months. Young are weaned after 3 to 12 months and are fully mature within 3 to 5 years. The life expectancy of some species can be as long as 50 years.
, Cercopithecini
and Papionini
, as shown in the list of genera below.
Phylogenetic position of the Cercopithecinae.
Old World monkey
The Old World monkeys or Cercopithecidae are a group of primates, falling in the superfamily Cercopithecoidea in the clade Catarrhini. The Old World monkeys are native to Africa and Asia today, inhabiting a range of environments from tropical rain forest to savanna, shrubland and mountainous...
s, that includes in its roughly 71 species the baboon
Baboon
Baboons are African and Arabian Old World monkeys belonging to the genus Papio, part of the subfamily Cercopithecinae. There are five species, which are some of the largest non-hominoid members of the primate order; only the mandrill and the drill are larger...
s, the macaque
Macaque
The macaques constitute a genus of Old World monkeys of the subfamily Cercopithecinae. - Description :Aside from humans , the macaques are the most widespread primate genus, ranging from Japan to Afghanistan and, in the case of the barbary macaque, to North Africa...
s and the vervet monkey
Vervet Monkey
The vervet monkey , or simply vervet, is an Old World monkey of the family Cercopithecidae native to Africa. The term "vervet" is also used to refer to all the members of the genus Chlorocebus....
s. Most cercopithecine monkeys are limited to sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa as a geographical term refers to the area of the African continent which lies south of the Sahara. A political definition of Sub-Saharan Africa, instead, covers all African countries which are fully or partially located south of the Sahara...
, although the macaques range from the far eastern parts of Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
through northern Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
as well as on Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
.
Characteristics
The various species are adapted to the different terrains they inhabit. Arboreal species are slim, delicate and have a long tail, while terrestrialTerrestrial animal
Terrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land , as compared with aquatic animals, which live predominantly or entirely in the water , or amphibians, which rely on a combination of aquatic and terrestrial habitats...
species are stockier and their tail can be small or completely nonexistent. All species have well-developed thumbs. Some species have ischial callosities, which can change their colour during mating period.
These monkeys are diurnal
Diurnal animal
Diurnality is a plant or animal behavior characterized by activity during the day and sleeping at night.-In animals:Animals that are not diurnal might be nocturnal or crepuscular . Many animal species are diurnal, including many mammals, insects, reptiles and birds...
and live together in social groups. They live in all types of terrain and climate, from cool mountains to rain forests, savanna
Savanna
A savanna, or savannah, is a grassland ecosystem characterized by the trees being sufficiently small or widely spaced so that the canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to reach the ground to support an unbroken herbaceous layer consisting primarily of C4 grasses.Some...
h, bald rocky areas or even snowy mountains, like the Japanese Macaque
Japanese Macaque
The Japanese macaque , historically known as saru , but now known as Nihonzaru to distinguish it from other primates, is a terrestrial Old World monkey species native to Japan....
.
Most species are omnivorous with diets ranging from fruits, leaves, seeds, buds, mushrooms to insects and spiders to smaller vertebrates.
Gestation lasts approximately six to seven months. Young are weaned after 3 to 12 months and are fully mature within 3 to 5 years. The life expectancy of some species can be as long as 50 years.
Classification
Cercopithinae is often split into two tribesTribe (biology)
In biology, a tribe is a taxonomic rank between family and genus. It is sometimes subdivided into subtribes.Some examples include the tribes: Canini, Acalypheae, Hominini, Bombini, and Antidesmeae.-See also:* Biological classification* Rank...
, Cercopithecini
Cercopithecini
Cercopithecini is a tribe of Old World monkey that includes several monkey species, including the vervet monkeys, talapoins and the guenons, all in Africa.- Classification :* FAMILY CERCOPITHECIDAE** Subfamily Cercopithecinae*** Tribe Cercopithecini...
and Papionini
Papionini
Papionini is a tribe of Old World monkey that includes several large monkey species, including the macaques, baboons and the Mandrill.- Classification :* FAMILY CERCOPITHECIDAE** Subfamily Cercopithecinae*** Tribe Cercopithecini*** Tribe Papionini...
, as shown in the list of genera below.
Phylogenetic position of the Cercopithecinae.
- FAMILY CERCOPITHECIDAEOld World monkeyThe Old World monkeys or Cercopithecidae are a group of primates, falling in the superfamily Cercopithecoidea in the clade Catarrhini. The Old World monkeys are native to Africa and Asia today, inhabiting a range of environments from tropical rain forest to savanna, shrubland and mountainous...
- Subfamily Cercopithecinae
- Tribe CercopitheciniCercopitheciniCercopithecini is a tribe of Old World monkey that includes several monkey species, including the vervet monkeys, talapoins and the guenons, all in Africa.- Classification :* FAMILY CERCOPITHECIDAE** Subfamily Cercopithecinae*** Tribe Cercopithecini...
- Genus AllenopithecusAllen's Swamp MonkeyAllen's swamp monkey is a primate species that is categorized in its own genus Allenopithecus in the Old World monkey family...
- Allen's swamp monkey - Genus Miopithecus - talapoins
- Genus ErythrocebusPatas MonkeyThe patas monkey , also known as the Wadi monkey or Hussar monkey, is a ground-dwelling monkey distributed over semi-arid areas of West Africa, and into East Africa. It is the only species classified in the genus Erythrocebus...
- patas monkey - Genus ChlorocebusChlorocebusChlorocebus is a genus of medium-sized primates from the family of Old World monkeys. There are six species currently recognized, although some classify them all as a single species with numerous subspecies...
- vervet monkeys, etc. - Genus Cercopithecus - guenons
- Genus Allenopithecus
- Tribe PapioniniPapioniniPapionini is a tribe of Old World monkey that includes several large monkey species, including the macaques, baboons and the Mandrill.- Classification :* FAMILY CERCOPITHECIDAE** Subfamily Cercopithecinae*** Tribe Cercopithecini*** Tribe Papionini...
- Genus MacacaMacaqueThe macaques constitute a genus of Old World monkeys of the subfamily Cercopithecinae. - Description :Aside from humans , the macaques are the most widespread primate genus, ranging from Japan to Afghanistan and, in the case of the barbary macaque, to North Africa...
- macaques - Genus Lophocebus - crested mangabeys
- Genus Rungwecebus - highland mangabey
- Genus Papio - baboons
- Genus TheropithecusGeladaThe gelada , sometimes called the gelada baboon, is a species of Old World monkey found only in the Ethiopian Highlands, with large populations in the Semien Mountains...
- gelada - Genus Cercocebus - white-eyelid mangabeys
- Genus MandrillusMandrillusMandrillus is the genus of the mandrill and its close relative the drill. These two species are closely related to the baboons, and until recently were lumped together as a single species of baboon. Both Mandrillus species have long furrows on either side of their elongated snouts. The adult male...
- drill and mandrill
- Genus Macaca
- Tribe Cercopithecini
- Subfamily ColobinaeColobinaeColobinae is a subfamily of the Old World monkey family that includes 59 species in 10 genera, including the skunk-like black-and-white colobus, the large-nosed proboscis monkey, and the gray langurs. Some classifications split the colobine monkeys into two tribes, while others split them into...
- Subfamily Cercopithecinae