Where does the vervet monkey live?
The vervet monkey ranges throughout much of Southern and East Africa, from Ethiopia and extreme southern South Sudan all the way down to South Africa. It inhabits savanna, riverine woodland and coastal forest. It is a very flexible species that can adapt to fragmented habitats, crops and even tree-lined urban areas. Five distinct subspecies are recognised.
What does the vervet monkey eat?
The vervet eats a primarily herbivorous diet, living mostly on wild fruits, flowers, leaves, seeds and seed pods. It lives in social groups of 10 to 70 individuals. Males are larger than females, and can be recognised by a turquoise-blue scrotum. It has a black face and grey body hair.
Is the vervet monkey endangered?
No: the IUCN lists it as Least Concern. It is studied to understand the genetic and social behaviours of humans, as it shows human-like traits, such as hypertension, anxiety and social alcohol use. Adult males weigh 3.9 to 8.0 kg, averaging 5.5 kg, and females 3.4 to 5.3 kg.
