| Scientific Name: |
Allenopithecus nigroviridis |
| Range: |
Congo and Western Zaire |
| Habitat: |
Swamp forests and riverbank forests |
| Natural Diet: |
Fruit, leaves, and small invertebrates |
| Zoo Diet: |
Commercial primate biscuit and vegetables |
Physical
Characteristics: |
Their head and body length is 18-20 inches; their tails add another
19-20 inches. They weigh 7-13 pounds. Male swamp monkeys are larger
than females. They are grayish to almost black, but sometimes they have
a yellowish or greenish tinge. Their face skin is grayish-brown and it
is lighter around their eyes. |
| Behavior: |
Swamp monkeys are arboreal (live in the trees) and diurnal (active
during the day). They forage (look for food) on the ground and in
shallow water. They live in groups of up to forty individuals. Each
group includes several adult males. |
| Reproduction: |
The females bear young, which are weaned (when the baby is no longer
dependent on the mother’s milk) in approximately three months. They are
mature in 3-5 years. |
| Notes: |
Swamp monkeys are good swimmers, and their webbed toes help them
paddle in the water. To escape predators such as the crowned hawk
eagle, various large snakes, and pygmy chimpanzees, they may dive into
the water. |
