VERVET - Has a thick band of white hair framing the upper sides of
the face and above the brow.
This is a highly diverse group with there being 19 to 21 distinct species, 67 sub-species, and 8 or 9 groups. To make it easier, they are divided up into 2 categories, Savanna and Forest dwelling. They have a life span of 20 to 25 years and the species most commonly owned by individuals are:
They are plain colored with soft, short hair which is yellowish to olive color on the shoulders, back, and tail. Their arms and legs are gray to black and their face is black as well. They weigh in at about 10 to 16 pounds. and the males are larger than the females. They posses opposable thumbs, a long tail, and cheek pouches.
GREEN MONKEYS - The most plain of the savanna monkeys, lacking the white band of hair above the eyes.
VERVET - Has a thick band of white hair framing the upper sides of
the face and above the brow.
GRIVET - Has a thin band of white across the brow and has white
cheek tufts on either side of the head.
Females reach sexual maturity between 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 years of age and males at around 5 years. Usually one baby per year is born after a gestation of 163 days. Infants develop very rapidly after birth, but they are born with brown-grayish colored hair and peach colored face, ears, hands, and feet. As they mature, their hair changes color and their skin pigmentation darkens. There is a great diversity as to the age which weaning occurs, but some mothers have been known to start at one month where others nurse newborns along with older siblings.
They live in multi-male groups which are lead by a single male. A typical group may have up to 20 members, and the males compete to be troop leader and then can choose any female he likes for breeding. Females tend to be less aggressive than males, who can end up in dangerous, deadly fights, but have been known to gang up on adult males. They engage in social grooming, and will roll on their backs or smack their lips when they want to be groomed.
They have silky, flecked coats which range in color from grays, to reds, to browns. Their heads and hind quarters have various patterns.
GREATER AND LESSER SPOT-NOSED - At least 3 different guenon species have spots on their noses: the Greater Spot-nosed, Lesser Spot-nosed, and the Red-tailed guenon. The Spot-nosed are more often kept as pets, and as their names imply, the greater is the larger of the two. Their throat, belly, and inner arms and legs are also white, and the face is dark gray. Their muzzle is pinkish-gray and they have a white beard. There are 2 black stripes, one running along their brow and dipping down in front of the ears, and back behind the head. The other stripe runs down the nose and then towards the ears. The differences between the 2 species are:
LESSER SPOT-NOSED - The spot is heart shaped and white, and
are light in color with an upper body of dark green with a hint of
brown.
WEIGHT: 6 to 12 pounds
HEAD AND BODY LENGTH: 14 to 18 inches
GREATER SPOT-NOSED - Have dark body hair which is
speckled with gray or reddish- brown with black underparts and tail.
Their nose spot is more oval and yellow in color.
WEIGHT: 10 to 18 pounds
HEAD AND BODY LENGTH: 17 to 26 inches
MONA - Reddish brown hair with black speckling with dark gray thighs. Their cheeks, throat, and inner arms are white to gray and white spots are on either sides of their tail. The head is black and flecked with a yellowish green color, and their face is a bluish black with a pink muzzle. There are bushy tufts on either side of their face, and a narrow black stripe running from the corner of each eye to the ears. They weigh anywhere from 6 to 15 pounds
DE BRAZZA - DE BRAZZA-has a white nose and mouth with a
distinct beard. They are brightly colored, with the skin on the face and
eyes being light blue, and the cheek tufts speckled with yellow and
black surrounding it. On their forehead is a dome shaped cluster of
gingered colored hairs with a narrow band of white above it. A band
of black is then above the white band and extends down to the ears.
The top of the head, body, and limbs are a black and yellow mix with
a white stripe on the outer thighs. Their hands, feet, and tail are black.
WEIGHT: 9 to 16 pounds
HEAD AND BODY LENGTH: 16 to 24 inches
There is a dominant male in the group, but that does not mean that he has fathered any of the infants in the group. During the breeding season, solitary males or males from other groups will infiltrate the group and mate with the females. Gestation is 140 to 165 days and first births have been known to happen as early as the third year and as late as the seventh year. They have babies every one to three years and infants nurse for approximately six months, but may begin eating solids at two months of age.
They live in small troops of 10 to 40 individuals dominated by a single male. Females are more territorial than males and they are the only permanent members of the group. They are not as social as some of the other primates and any grooming or socializing is usually seen between a mother and her infant. Males and females rarely interact unless it is breeding season.
All guenons need a spacious enclosure with lots of floor space for the savanna monkeys, but climbing, hiding, and play structures are also highly important. The forest guenons need a taller cage, at least 8 feet, with swings, ropes, hanging crates, ect... Privacy is also very important to these monkeys, because it is their natural tendency to hide when frightened. Large pipes, sleeping boxes, and cinder blocks are just a few examples of what may be used. If you plan to keep more than one, remember that Savanna monkeys naturally live in multi-male groups and the forest guenons usually have one male to several females. De Brazzas do well in pairs because it is close to their natural situation.
As with all monkeys, guenons need a varied and healthy diet. It is important to remember that they have cheek pouches which are used as a brief storage area for food. It is possible for there to be a buildup of bacteria in these pouches due to a diet consisting of primarily soft, non-abrasive foods. Therefore, these monkeys should be given large amounts of seeds, like pumpkin and sunflower seeds, to stuff the pouch with. The roughness of the seeds will help scrape off the bacteria. A breakdown of their diet structure is: 80% commercial old world biscuit, 10% fresh fruit and vegetables, 5% browsing foods (leaves, plants and stems, seeds, nuts, grains), and 5% high protein treat.
The resource for this document is THE PRIMATE CARE HANDBOOK and can be ordered from the publisher, the Simian Society of America.
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