Cercopithecinae

Cercopithecine monkeys
Mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Primates
Superfamily:	Cercopithecoidea
Family:	Cercopithecidae
Subfamily:	Cercopithecinae Gray, 1821
Genera
Allenopithecus Miopithecus Erythrocebus Chlorocebus Cercopithecus Macaca Lophocebus Rungwecebus Papio Theropithecus Cercocebus Mandrillus

The Cercopithecinae are a subfamily of the Old World monkeys, which comprises roughly 71 species, including the baboons, the macaques and the vervet monkeys. Most cercopithecine monkeys are limited to sub-Saharan Africa, although the macaques range from the far eastern parts of Asia through northern Africa, as well as on Gibraltar.

Characteristics

The various species are adapted to the different terrains they inhabit. Arboreal species are slim, delicate and have a long tail, while terrestrial species are stockier and their tail can be small or completely nonexistent. All species have well-developed thumbs. Some species have ischial callosities, which can change their colour during mating period.

These monkeys are diurnal and live together in social groups. They live in all types of terrain and climate, from cool mountains to rain forests, savannah, bald rocky areas or even snowy mountains, such as the Japanese macaque.

Most species are omnivorous, with diets ranging from fruits, leaves, seeds, buds, and mushrooms to insects and spiders to smaller vertebrates. All species possess cheek pouches in which they can store food.

Gestation lasts approximately six to seven months. Young are weaned after three to 12 months and are fully mature within three to five years. The life expectancy of some species can be as long as 50 years.

Classification

Cercopithinae are often split into two tribes, Cercopithecini and Papionini, as shown in the list of genera below.

Homo Pan Hylobates Cercopithecinae Macaca   Papio Theropithecus Cercocebus Colobinae Colobus   Pygathrix Nasalis   Trachypithecus

Phylogenetic position of the Cercopithecinae.

• FAMILY CERCOPITHECIDAE
  • Subfamily Cercopithecinae
    • Tribe Cercopithecini
      • Genus Allenopithecus - Allen's swamp monkey
      • Genus Miopithecus - talapoins
      • Genus Erythrocebus - patas monkey
      • Genus Chlorocebus - vervet monkeys, etc.
      • Genus Cercopithecus - guenons
    • Tribe Papionini
      • Genus Macaca - macaques
      • Genus Lophocebus - crested mangabeys
      • Genus Rungwecebus - highland mangabey
      • Genus Papio - baboons
      • Genus Theropithecus - gelada
      • Genus Cercocebus - white-eyelid mangabeys
      • Genus Mandrillus - drill and mandrill
  • Subfamily Colobinae

See also

• Parapapio