Vervet Monkeys
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| Vervet Monkey Conservation status: Vulnerable | ||||||||||||||
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| Chlorocebus pygerythrus Linnaeus, 1758 |
The Vervet Monkey (Chlorocebus pygerythrus), or just simply Vervet, is an African Old World monkey species that is classified into the family Cercopithecidae. The term can also refer to all of the members of their genus, Chlorocebus.
Vervets are commonly found around South Africa, where they are classified as vermin. Sources indicate that these monkeys must go through a life of danger by being constantly killed by people. In South Africa, these creatures can be killed in any method without previously obtaining a permit.
The Vervet Monkey inhabits savanna and mountains up to 4000 m. Males vary in size from 45 to 85 cm and weigh between 3.5 to 7.5 kg, while females, range from 40 to 60 cm in size and between 2.5 to 5.5 kg in weight. Both have the tail lengths that can vary from 50 to 115 cm.
The Vervet Monkey is an omnivore yet mainly eats in a vegetarian style. It lives in groups that of 20 or more, however sizes are often smaller. Its gestation period is 7 months with a single offspring produced and is known to have a life span of up to 20 years.
Classification
There are four distinct subspecies of Vervets:
- Chlorocebus pygerythrus hilgerti
- Chlorocebus pygerythrus excubitor
- Chlorocebus pygerythrus rufoviridis
- Chlorocebus pygerythrus pygerythrus