Sunday, January 6, 2008

Patas Monkey - Erythrocebus patas


The Patas monkey has long limbs and a lean body. This species is well adapted for terrestrial life (ground dwelling), although they also are able to climb trees to avoid predators. The long tail helps with balance when jumping or sitting. They are very fast for a primate, with a maximum ground speed of ~55 km per hour (34 mph) reported.

Their red-brown and white coloration helps them to hide in the tall grass where they forage for food. Both males and females have a black face with a thin white moustache.

Patas monkeys are found in across central Africa, between the Sahara in the north and the equatorial rain forests in the south.