The Sykes' monkey (Cercopithecus albogularis), named after English naturalist Colonel William Henry Sykes (1790-1872), also known as the white-throated monkey or Samango monkey, is an Old World monkey found between Ethiopia and South Africa, including south and east Democratic Republic of Congo. It has been considered conspecific with the blue monkey (which in turn has included the golden and silver monkey), but has a large white patch on the throat and upper chest, and a grizzled (not blackish) cap.
The sykes' monkey at first sight looks very similer to the common vervet monkey that steels our fruit and hangs out in our garden, but it is actually completely different putting it in great danger. The sykes' monkey only lives in certain forests:The evergreen forests, including rainforest, swamp, and coastal forest areas. Despite being widespread, their overall numbers are decreasing in unprotected areas. It is very dependent on humid, shady areas with plenty of water. It eats mainly fruit and leaves, but will take some slower-moving invertebrates. The sykes' monkey prefers to live in tall trees which provide both food and shelter, and is therefore, like almost all guenons, suffering from the loss of its natural habitat.
in addition the loss of habitat, the monkey may be treated as a threat by foresters, since it sometimes strips the bark from exotic trees in a search for food or moisture. and if that isn't enough, It is also hunted for bushmeat.
here are a couple photographs I took in ISimangaliso-Wetland-Park formerly Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa. enjoy(:
a mother with its baby
baby sykes' monkey
communicating
