The common patas monkey (Erythrocebus patas), also known as the hussar monkey, and others listing two: the western Erythrocebus patas patas (with a black nose) and the eastern E. patas pyrrhonotus (with a white nose). However, it was later discovered that the nose colour used to separate these subspecies could change to white during pregnancy in females, as well as in general as animals aged, and E. patas pyrrhonotus in Kenya often did not have white noses, However, more recent studies have found this interpretation of Cercopithecus to be paraphyletic, and thus many species in Cercopithecus have since been reclassified to numerous new genera and species, with C. aethiops moved to Chlorocebus and C. lhoesti to Allochrocebus. Erythrocebus is thus now thought to be a distinct genus.

Erythrocebus was previously thought to be a monotypic genus containing only E. patas. However, a 2017 study proposed splitting E. patas into three species (E. patas sensu stricto, E. poliphaeus, and E. baumstarki) based on morphological differences and heavy geographic separation between taxa, with the IUCN Red List and American Society of Mammalogists following through with this.

Description

The male common patas monkey grows to to in length, excluding the tail, which measures . Adult males are considerably larger than adult females, which average in length.

Adult males average and adult females , showing a high degree of sexual dimorphism. Reaching speeds of , it is the fastest runner among the primates. The life span in the wild can be up to about 20 years.

Behavior

The common patas monkey lives in multi-female groups of up to 60 individuals (although much larger aggregations have been reported). The group contains just one adult male for most of the year. During the breeding season, outside males come into the group to mate with the females.

Among primates, patas monkeys have the longest daily travel distances and the largest home ranges for their body size. The adult females in the group initiate movement of the group with the male following their lead.

The common patas monkey feeds on insects, gum, seeds, and tubers, a diet more characteristic of much smaller primates.

Mating

Mating in common patas monkeys is seasonal and occurs for roughly one month each year. A female solicits mating by running past a male with her tail curled up and crouching in front of him. On some occasions, she'll also drool and puff out her cheeks.

Male social organization

Outside of mating season (which is roughly one month a year), relatively stable groups with one adult male and several females are the norm. This leaves an excess of males that either form all-male groups or live on their own. During the mating season, when females become receptive, outside males come into the group to mate with females "in apparently total promiscuity." With the rush of outside males, the resident male has no marked mating advantage over the others. At the end of the mating season, when most of the females are pregnant, one-male groupings are reformed as a single male will chase the others away.

The relationship between the patas monkey and the whistling thorn acacia may have inspired The Lorax by Dr. Seuss.

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Patas monkey (Erythrocebus patas) male.jpg|male, Senegal

Patas monkey (Erythrocebus patas) male rear.jpg|male, showing blue scrotum, Senegal

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Beninese boy and pet monkey at Bembèrèkè 2009-06-15.JPG|Beninese boy with pet monkey

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Notes

References

  • Primate Info Net Erythrocebus patas Factsheet