Sun-tailed monkey
The sun-tailed monkey (Allochrocebus solatus) from Gabon is one of the least studied primates in its habitat.[3] It was discovered as a new species in 1988, and is classified as a guenon, which is a member of the genus Cercopithecus, but was subsequently moved to the genus Allochrocebus.[1][4][5] It is closely related to A. preussi and A. Ihoesti, which has been determined by chromosomal analysis.[6] Sun-tailed monkeys prefer shady areas with dense vegetation. However, even after small amounts of logging activity, populations can be unaffected. Much of their diet remains unknown and is still being studied, but they are known to prefer fruit. Their social groups are made up of one male and multiple females.[2] Generally, the sun-tailed monkey is less aggressive towards related individuals, which is noteworthy because it has been found that, in other primate species, aggression rates towards related individuals are generally as high or higher than aggression rates towards non-related individuals. Within their social groups, individual monkeys show preference for their mothers over their fathers, and are overall less aggressive to other monkeys that they are associated with spatially.[7]
| Sun-tailed monkey[1] | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Primates |
| Suborder: | Haplorhini |
| Infraorder: | Simiiformes |
| Family: | Cercopithecidae |
| Genus: | Allochrocebus |
| Species: | A. solatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Allochrocebus solatus M. J. S. Harrison, 1988 | |
 | |
| Geographic range | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Conservation status
The Sun-tailed monkey is a Class B protected species under the African Convention and Appendix II of CITES. The Gabonese government gave it protected status in 1994 and some animals are kept there in captivity. Around 10% of the monkey's habitat is in the Lopé National Park, but the highest density is at the Foret des Abeilles, which is still unprotected. It is recommended that there should be more monitoring of hunting and logging activity in its habitat, as well as more research into the distribution and biology of the species in general. Occasionally, there have been reports of monkeys raiding crops in local villages.[2] However, there is not much study into how these interactions with humans affect the populations as a whole.
Biochemistry
As one of the most poorly known nonhuman primate species with only one semi-captive population in the world, not much is known about its genome or biochemistry. However, there has been some research conducted into the blood biochemistry of the animal. Blood analysis of the sun-tailed monkey reveals that males show higher levels of hemoglobin and hematocrit than females. Females, however, showed higher levels of cholesterol and had higher neutrophil counts. In general, as the monkey ages, levels of blood urea increase and albumin protein levels decrease, which suggest declining liver, kidney and muscle function through life. [3]
References
- Groves, C. P. (2005). Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 158. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. OCLC 62265494.
- Abernethy, K.; Maisels, F.; Coad, L. (2019). "Allochrocebus solatus". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T4230A92346555. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T4230A92346555.en.
- Motch, Peggy; Gonzalez, Jean-Paul; Verrier, Delphine (23 January 2012). "Clinical Biochemistry and Hematology of the Elusive Sun-Tailed Monkey(Cercopithecus solatus) in Gabon: Inaugural Data From the Only SemifreeRanging Colony in the World". American Journal of Primatology. 74 (3): 236–246. doi:10.1002/ajp.21993. PMID 24006542. S2CID 38902964.
- "Allochrocebus". ITIS. Retrieved 2019-07-18.
- "Allochrocebus". Mammal Diversity Database. Retrieved 2019-07-18.
- Harrison, Michael J. S. (1988-07-01). "A new species of guenon (genusCercopithecus) from Gabon". Journal of Zoology. 215 (3): 561–575. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1988.tb02860.x. ISSN 1469-7998.
- Charpentier, Marie J. E.; Deubel, Delphine; Peignot, Patricia (2008-04-01). "Relatedness and Social Behaviors in Cercopithecus solatus". International Journal of Primatology. 29 (2): 487–495. doi:10.1007/s10764-008-9246-9. ISSN 0164-0291. S2CID 23828008.
External links
Further reading
- Harrison, Michael J. S. (1988). "A new species of guenon (genus Cercopithecus) from Gabon". Journal of Zoology 215 (3): 561-575. (Cercopithecus solatus, new species).
- Mittermeier, Russell A.; Rylands, Anthony B.; Wilson, Don E.; chief editors (2013). Handbook of the Mammals of the World. 3. Primates. Bellaterra, Spain: Lynx Edicions. 952 pp. ISBN 978-84-96553-89-7.