Sclater's guenon (Cercopithecus sclateri), Sclater's monkey and the Nigerian monkey
Sclater's guenon (Cercopithecus sclateri), also known as Sclater's monkey and Nigerian monkey, is an Old World monkey first described by Reginald Innes Pocock in 1904 and named after Philip Sclater. It is a diurnal, arboreal primate living in the forests of southern Nigeria. It should not be confused with the closely related species, the white-throated guenon (Cercopithecus erythrogaster), found in Nigeria and Benin. Sclater's guenon was formerly classified as a subspecies of the red-eared guenon (Cercopithecus erythrotis).
Its nutrition is unknown. It is likely that the species is primarily frugivorous and supplements its nutrition with other plant parts and insects, based on data from closely related species.
Sclater's guenon was thought to be almost extinct until the late 1980s. The species is now known to occur in several isolated populations between the Niger and Cross rivers in southern Nigeria. This region is in the Guinean forests of the West African biodiversity hotspot.
The species does not occur in any officially protected areas, but three populations of Sclater's guenon are known to be protected by local people, who consider the monkeys to have a sacred status. Mainly due to hunting and habitat fragmentation and loss, which increase the isolation and decline of the population, Sclater's Guenon is listed as a vulnerable species.
Sclater's guenon is known to be held in captivity only at the Centre for Primate and Nature Education, Rehabilitation and Conservation in Cross River State, Nigeria.
Description
Sclater's cercopithecus (Cercopithecus sclateri) is a species of catarrhine primate belonging to the family Cercopithecidae. It was described by Reginald Innes Pocock in 1904 and formally named by Philip Sclater. It is a diurnal, arboreal species living in the forests of southern Nigeria. It was formerly classified as a subspecies of the red-eared cercopithecus (Cercopithecus erythrotis).
The coat of Cercopithecus sclateri is dark grey, greenish on the back. The tail is very long, reddish above, lighter towards the end, but the tip of the tail is black. The muzzle is brownish pink, the tip of the nose is lighter. The coat on the crown and cheeks is long and includes yellow hairs. The fur on the throat and ears is light coloured.
It is one of the smallest monkeys. Sexual dimorphism is evident: the average weight of females is 2.5 kg, that of males is about 4 kg.
Lifestyle and nutrition
It is a diurnal animal that spends most of its time in trees. Diet consists mainly of fruit, but also other plant foods and small animals.
Conservation status
The species became extinct in the late 1980s. There are now several isolated populations between the Niger and the Cross Rivers in southern Nigeria.
