Mammal
Red-tailed Monkey
Cercopithecus ascaniusAlso known as Black-cheeked White-nosed Monkey, Red-tailed Guenon, Redtail Monkey, Schmidt's Guenon
Red-tailed monkeys are active tree-dwelling primates recognized by their distinctive white nose spot, dark cheeks, and long copper-red tails. Living in social groups led by a dominant male, they communicate using complex vocal chirps, facial expressions, and tail signals while leaping between forest branches. They store fruit and seeds in specialized elastic cheek pouches to eat later in safety away from potential canopy predators.
ArborealDiurnalSocial
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyFruits, Insects, Tree Leaves
Predators
- Crowned Eagle
- Leopard
- Chimpanzee
ThreatsDeforestation, habitat fragmentation, bushmeat hunting
HabitatsTropical rainforests, swamp forests, riverine woodlands
Life span20–30 years
Classification
- OrderPrimates
- FamilyCercopithecidae
- GenusCercopithecus
- SpeciesCercopithecus ascanius
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskModerate
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is moderate
- Capable of delivering a sharp bite if cornered; observe from a respectful distance.
Responsible observation
- Canopy Watching: Scan middle to upper canopy layers in early morning when foraging activity peaks.
- Listen for Calls: Listen for distinctive chirps and bird-like alarm calls indicating a group presence.
- Keep Distance: Maintain a comfortable distance to avoid causing stress or altering natural behavior.
Predator (c) Suvarna Parbhoo Mohan, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Predator Giles Laurent / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Genus Relative (c) Matt Muir, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Muir · cc-by
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