Mammal
Sykes' Monkey
Cercopithecus mitis albogularisAlso known as Samango Monkey, White-throated Guenon, White-throated Monkey
Sykes' monkeys are arboreal primates easily recognized by their dark grizzled fur, distinctive white throat patch, and long reddish-tinted tail. Living in tight-knit, female-bonded social groups, they spend most of their time in the high canopy of East African forests foraging for fruits, foliage, and small invertebrates. Their resonant boom calls and high-pitched alarm chirps echo through coastal and montane woodlands, signaling group movements and warning of overhead predators.
ArborealSocialFrugivore
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyWild fruits, Young leaves, Insects
Predators
- Leopard
- Crowned Eagle
- African Rock Python
ThreatsHabitat loss, forest fragmentation, crop-raiding retaliation
HabitatsCoastal forests, montane woodlands, riverine forests
Life span15–20 years in the wild
Classification
- FamilyCercopithecidae
- SpeciesCercopithecus mitis albogularis
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Capable of delivering a sharp defensive bite if cornered or habituated; observe from a safe distance.
- Why it is dangerous
- Equipped with strong jaws and long canine teeth that can inflict deep puncture wounds if cornered or habituated to human food.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Medium-sized primate with dark grizzled fur, a distinct white throat patch, and a long tail.
- What to do
- Maintain a distance of at least ten meters and never offer food or attempt to touch them.
Responsible observation
- Observation: Use binoculars to spot them foraging in the upper forest canopy during early morning hours.
- Feeding: Never feed wild monkeys, as habituation leads to aggressive behavior and human conflict.
- Vocalizations: Listen for the deep boom calls of adult males echoing through the forest.
Competitor "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
Predator (c) Suvarna Parbhoo Mohan, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Frequent Companion (c) Carrie Seltzer, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.