Lincoln Park Zoo

De Brazza's monkey

Common name: De Brazza's monkey
Latin Name: Cercopithecus neglectus

Class: Mammals
Order: Primates

Description
De Brazza’s monkeys are notable for their distinctive white facial hair, which resembles a beard. The species has gray fur, with a white belly and orange crest on the forehead. De Brazza’s monkeys are a sexually dimorphic species, meaning that males and females differ in appearance: males can weigh as much as 15 pounds, while females typically weigh 9 pounds.

Range
De Brazza’s monkeys are found in Central Africa, from Cameroon and Angola to Ethiopia.

Status
De Brazza’s monkeys are common throughout their range, although they face potential threats from habitat loss and the illegal pet trade.

Habitat
An arboreal species, De Brazza’s monkeys favor wetland forests. They typically live within 1 mile of water.

Niche
Fruit makes up the majority of De Brazza’s monkeys’ diets, although they also eat leaves and insects. The primates primarily occupy the thick canopy of their forest home, although they can also swim, if required. Groups averaging 4–10 monkeys establish and defend territories in the treetops.

Life History
De Brazza’s monkeys reach maturity at 5–6 years of age. After maturity, females stay with the group they were born into while males disperse into new territory. Infants are born after a gestation period of 5–6 months, and they are dependent on their mothers for care for at least a year.