Biology
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The diet of this diurnal species consists of fruits, seeds, herbaceous plants, insects and small vertebrate prey (8). Although spending much of their time on the ground during the day, groups will sleep in the canopy, 10 to 15 meters above the ground (9). Mean group size for this species is 17 individuals (8) (10), consisting of one male and multiple females, although solitary males are known to occur (6) (8). The sun-tailed monkey has a polygynous mating system (9), and adult males will actively defend their groups from other males trying to usurp them (11). Whilst males disperse from their natal group, females remain, and a dominance hierarchy exists amongst these females, which is subsequently inherited by their offspring (11). The sun-tailed monkey gives birth to a single offspring, and the age of first reproduction for females is about 4 years old (9).
Conservation
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The Gabonese government declared the sun-tailed monkey as a fully protected species in 1994 (5), and it is now considered a flagship species for conservation in Gabon (2). The future of this species rests with its protection within its range, and of its habitat. It will be important to determine this primate's distribution more precisely, and monitor the planned logging operation in the Foret des Abeilles and Lope closely (5).
Description
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The sun-tailed monkey was first described in 1986 (1). It is a close relative of L'Hoest's Monkey, (Cercopithecus lhoesti), and Preuss's monkey (C. preussi), and in many ways resembles these primates with their dark grey coats, white markings, and long tails (4) (5).
Habitat
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Inhabits hilly primary and secondary moist evergreen forest (1) (2). The sun-tailed monkey is a predominantly terrestrial primate (7).
Range
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This species is endemic to Gabon, West Africa (4). It has a fragmented distribution area estimated at about 10,300 km², mainly centred in the Foret des Abeilles in central Gabon (6). This range is limited to the north and east by the Ogooue, Lolo and Bouenguidi rivers though it is not clear to what extent this primate occurs to the west and south of the Foret des Abeilles (6). More recent research suggests that this species occurs in the southern parts of the Lope National Park (5).
Status
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Classified as Vulnerable (VU B1+2abcde, C1) on the IUCN Red List 2004 (1), and listed on Appendix II of CITES (3).
Threats
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This monkey has a restricted range and is therefore highly at risk from habitat loss and fragmentation (1). While the area of Lope is relatively well protected, the Foret des Abeilles has been opened up to timber exploitation (5). As the forests become accessible for logging, the wildlife becomes more susceptible to hunting by locals for meat. In addition, the sun-tailed monkey is semi-terrestrial and so is at risk from being trapped in ground snares (5).
Sun-tailed monkey
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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]
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
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^ a b 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.
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^ a b c d 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.
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^ a b 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.
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^ "Allochrocebus". ITIS. Retrieved 2019-07-18.
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^ "Allochrocebus". Mammal Diversity Database. Retrieved 2019-07-18.
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^ 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.
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^ 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.
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Sun-tailed monkey: Brief Summary
provided by wikipedia EN
The sun-tailed monkey (Allochrocebus solatus) from Gabon is one of the least studied primates in its habitat. 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. It is closely related to A. preussi and A. Ihoesti, which has been determined by chromosomal analysis. 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. 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.
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