Mammal · GBIF taxon 2436548
Patas Monkey
Erythrocebus patasAlso known as Hussar Monkey, Military Monkey, Red Dirt Monkey
Patas monkeys are the fastest runners among primates, capable of reaching speeds of 55 kilometers per hour across the open savanna. These highly terrestrial monkeys live in female-led groups where a single adult male acts as a sentinel, scanning the horizon for predators from termite mounds or acacia trees. When threatened, they rely on their remarkable speed and camouflage in the tall grass rather than climbing trees.
TerrestrialFast-runningDiurnal
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Near ThreatenedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNear ThreatenedRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Acacia Gum
- Insects
- Seeds
Predators
- Leopards
- Cheetahs
- Martial Eagles
ThreatsHabitat loss, hunting for bushmeat, and agricultural expansion
HabitatsSavannas, semi-arid grasslands, and open woodlands
Life span15 to 20 years in the wild
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderPrimates
- FamilyCercopithecidae
- GenusErythrocebus
- SpeciesErythrocebus patas
Native Introduced
Native range in olive; established introduced range in rust.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Can deliver a painful bite if cornered; maintain a respectful distance at all times.
Responsible observation
- Keep your distance: Avoid approaching troops on foot, as males will aggressively defend their group.
- Watch the sentinels: Look for a lone male perched high on a termite mound or acacia tree scanning the area.
- Secure food items: Keep food and trash sealed to prevent attracting monkeys to campsites or vehicles.
Sympatric Primate "Vervet Monkey, Uganda" by Rod Waddington is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/. · cc-by-sa
Competitor (c) Lip Kee, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Host Plant (c) Rabah Al-Shammary, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Rabah Al-Shammary · cc-by
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Emerald Kingdom
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