Mammal · GBIF taxon 5219566
Mona Monkey
Cercopithecus monaAlso known as Mona Guenon
Mona monkeys navigate the upper canopy with agile leaps, using long black tails for balance while searching for ripe figs and forest fruits. Living in vocal troops of up to thirty-five individuals, they communicate across the foliage with booming alarm calls, chatter, and expressive facial signals. Roomy cheek pouches allow foragers to store fruit quickly before retreating to the safety of high branches.
ArborealSocialFrugivore
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Near ThreatenedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNear ThreatenedRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Wild fruits
- Tree foliage
- Insects
Predators
- African Crowned Eagles
- Leopards
- Chimpanzees
ThreatsDeforestation, forest fragmenting, and hunting for the bushmeat trade
HabitatsLowland rainforests, gallery forests, mangrove swamps, and secondary woodlands
Life span15 to 22 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyCercopithecidae
- SpeciesCercopithecus mona
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- May bite or scratch if cornered or hand-fed; maintain a safe distance.
- What to notice
- Recognizable by reddish-brown upperparts, a crisp white chest, blue-grey face, and two bright white patches on the rump near the tail.
- Support conservation
- Observe quietly without using flash photography or making direct eye contact, which monkeys interpret as a threat.
Responsible observation
- Keep distance: Keep at least ten meters away to avoid provoking defensive behavior.
- Never feed: Handouts make monkeys bold, increasing risks of bites and disease transmission.
- Listen for vocalizations: Listen for deep boom calls echoing through the canopy to spot troops overhead.
Predator 
Close Relative Badgernet / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-saClose Relative Close Relative
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