L’Hoest’s Monkey/Guenon

ANIMAL:
L’Hoest’s Monkey Cercopithecus lhoesti

Type of Animal:
Old World Monkey

Habitat:
Forests, wooded savanna, forest borders, woodland

Location(s):
Upper E. Congo Basin

Appearance:
Dark brown coat w/ chestnut color across back, light gray cheeks w/ pale moustache, male larger than female & has bright blue scrotum. Male has longer canines than female. Babies light orange/red.

Food/Diet:
Leaves, fruits, buds, blossoms, bark, stems, seeds, herbs, mushrooms, vegetables, roots, eggs, small birds, lizards, insects

Status in Wild:
Threatened

Conservation:
Breeding in zoos, wildlife parks, & breeding centers

Lifestyle:
Troops consist of male w/ harem of 5-17 females & offspring. Troop females often related to each other & females often stay in natal troop for life, harem male stays until replaced. Males leave when they reach 3-5 years old, forming small bachelor troops w/ other younger males & haremless mature males until supplanting established harem male.

Additional Info:

Called:
Male
Female
Young-Infant
Group-Troop

Weight:
Male- 13-22 lbs
Female- 6.6-9.9 lbs
Young- 1-1.5 lbs

Gestation:
5 months

Body Length:
Male- 1.7-2.3 ft
Female- 1.47-1.8 ft

Life Span: 
20 years in wild, up to 30 years in captivity

Tail Length:
Male- 2.2-2.47 ft
Female- 1.57-1.8 ft

Main predators are leopards, baboons, raptors, golden cats, snakes, & dogs.

Declining due to logging, habitat loss, pet trade, bushmeat trade, hunting for fur, strip mining, & persecution as crop pests.

Not usually found near other species of monkey.

Females usually initiate mating.

If threatened by predator, they’re very vocal.

Fun Fact(s):
They’re very good at swinging from tree to tree.

They can defend themselves w/ canine teeth if need be.

Like many monkeys, they don’t like water.

Also called “mountain monkeys” due to preference for montane forest.