Oltukai Conservancy

Category: Uncategorized | Date: Dec 03 2008 | By: oltukaiconservancy

This monkey of many names is black and white and red all over, more or less( said by Claire Lewis). The Patas monkey is the largest species in the Quenon tribe. There  are about  20 species  of African monkeys referred as quenon and are characterized by bold markings of white or bright colours and tails that are longer than the combined head and length. The patas monkey has many other names which are; Red, military, hussar, sergeant major and dancing monkey.

While some names are derived from its facial whiskers and errect postures, the name “Dancing monkey” is from its habit of  raising all 4 feet off the ground to express  pleasure or excitment. They are visually striking with red upper parts and long, slender, all-white limbs.They differ geographically.eg, that found in Tanzania(E.P. Baumstarki) have all-black faces.The ones we have recorded around the western Serengeti have no white facial markings, and the males have greyer underparts.They are truly Omnivorous and highly dependent on whistling.

Thank you,

Boniface Ngimojino.