Cercopithecus erythrogaster

Abstract: This study provides data on the past and present distribution of the red-bellied monkey, Cercopithecus erythrogaster erythrogaster, a subspecies that is endemic to Benin's southern ecosystems. The original distribution of this subspecies was between the Couffo River and the Nigerian border, but it has since been reduced to regions degraded by intense human settlement (such as the Oueme river valley) and to some better preserved areas, such as the Lama protected forest and some sacred grove forests in wet areas. Local people participated in this research programme and, as a result, many new localities have been discovered. All of these have been in wetlands in southern Benin, mainly in sacred groves. Conservation action for this subspecies will succeed only if local people are involved in its protection.

Abstract: Field observations and a study of museum skins showed that Cercopithecus erythrogaster is less variable than some accounts have suggested, and support its status as a valid species within the Cercopithecus cephus group. The species is still widespread in the lowland forest zone of southwest Nigeria, where it is most typically seen in dense, tangled growth below 15 m. Throughout the range of C erythrogaster, forests are being destroyed at a rapid rate and hunting for meat is intense, threatening the survival of the species. Alternative hypotheses for the existence of an endemic guenon in southwest Nigeria are discussed, and it is concluded that at present there is insufficient evidence to chose between them. ‘Cercopithecus signatus’ is shown not to be synonymous with C. erythrogaster; the signatus specimens may be hybrids.

Abstract: The distribution of West African primates is still poorly explored in Togo. Field data on distribution, abundance (kilometric index of abundance) and characteristics of primate habitat at six protected and unprotected areas of Togo are reported in this paper. Eight species and 831 primate individuals were visually recorded during field surveys. A few other species were suspected, but not recorded. Species directly observed in the field during our surveys were Cercopithecus erythrogaster erythrogaster, Cercopithecus petaurista petaurista, Cercopithecus mona, Chlorocebus tantalus, Colobus vellerosus, Erythrocebus patas, Papio anubis and Galago senegalensis. Our surveys did not provide any evidence of the persistence of the chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus) in the country. Most of the Togolese primates are of low conservation concern according to The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). However, our surveys suggested that the status of most of the species in Togo is instead ‘th...