Patas monkey
Erythrocebus patas
Key identification features
A tall, long-limbed, slender monkey, with red upper-parts and whitish limbs and under-parts, and a mostly white face. Males can be almost twice the size of females. HB 55-70 cm. Tail 55-70 cm. Wt 5-10 kg.
Habitat and social behaviour
These monkeys live in groups of 10 – 20 individuals. Males often travel some distance ahead of the main group so often seen singly. A highly terrestrial savanna species, closely associated with Whistling thorn acacia, Acacia drepanolobium. Capable of running extremely fast.
Similar species
At a distance large males can be mistaken for a gazelle. Yellow baboons have a yellow/brown pelage and a kinked tail.
Historical Distribution Map
References for historical distribution map