The 'Cercopithecinae' are a
subfamily of the
Old World monkeys, that includes in its roughly 71 species the
baboons, the
macaques and the
vervet monkeys. 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.
The various species are adapted to the different terrains they inhabit.
Arboreal species are slim, delicate and have a long tail, while
terrestrial 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,
savannah, 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.
Classification
Cercopithinae is often split into two
tribes,
Cercopithecini and
Papioini, as shown in the list of genera below.
★ FAMILY
CERCOPITHECIDAE
★
★ 'Subfamily Cercopithecinae'
★
★
★ Tribe
Cercopithecini
★
★
★
★ Genus ''
Allenopithecus'' - Allen's Swamp Monkey
★
★
★
★ Genus ''
Miopithecus'' - talapoins
★
★
★
★ Genus ''
Erythrocebus'' - Patas Monkey
★
★
★
★ Genus ''
Chlorocebus'' - vervet monkeys, etc.
★
★
★
★ Genus ''
Cercopithecus'' - guenons
★
★
★ Tribe
Papionini
★
★
★
★ Genus ''
Macaca'' - macaques
★
★
★
★ Genus ''
Lophocebus'' - crested mangabeys
★
★
★
★ Genus ''
Rungwecebus'' - Highland Mangabey
★
★
★
★ Genus ''
Papio'' - baboons
★
★
★
★ Genus ''
Theropithecus'' - Gelada
★
★
★
★ Genus ''
Cercocebus'' - white-eyelid mangabeys
★
★
★
★ Genus ''
Mandrillus'' - Drill and Mandrill
★
★ Subfamily
Colobinae
References
★
See also
★
Parapapio