The tantalus monkey (''Chlorocebus tantalus'') is an Old World monkey from Africa that ranges from Ghana to

Sudan Sudan ( or ; ar, السودان, as-Sūdān, officially the Republic of the Sudan ( ar, جمهورية السودان, link=no, Jumhūriyyat as-Sūdān), is a country in Northeast Africa. It shares borders with the Central African Republic t ...

. It was originally described as a subspecies of the grivet (''Chlorocebus aethiops''). All species in ''

Chlorocebus ''Chlorocebus'' is a genus of medium-sized primates from the family of Old World monkeys. Six species are currently recognized, although some people classify them all as a single species with numerous subspecies. Either way, they make up the enti ...

'' were formerly in the genus '' Cercopithecus''. It is a common species with a wide range, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being of " least concern".

Subspecies

This species has three recognized subspecies: *''C. t. tantalus'' *''C. t. budgetti'' *''C. t. marrensis''

Description

A medium-sized species, the tantalus monkey has a black face and a long tail. There is a distinctive undulating white or yellowish browband above the eyes. The cheeks and temples are white, the long hairs being swept backwards and often covering the ears in older individuals. The crown and dorsal surface of the body is grizzled and greenish or golden. The underparts are white and the tail and outer surfaces of the limbs grey. The tail may have a whitish tip. The male is larger than the female and has a bright blue scrotum surrounded by orange hairs.

Distribution and habitat

This monkey is found in tropical central Africa. Its native range includes Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Niger, Nigeria, South Sudan, Sudan, Togo and Uganda. It is an adaptable species able to inhabit open woodland, savannah, forest-grassland mosaic and riverside forest. It is at home in secondary forest and rural and urban locations.

Ecology

Tantalus monkeys live in troops averaging about thirty individuals, with up to ten adult males and eighteen adult females, and varying numbers of juveniles and young. Some adult males move about singly. There is a social hierarchy within the group. These monkeys are demi-terrestrial and spend much of their time on the ground. The troop maintains a territory, defending it with vocalizations and threats, but some groups are less aggressive than others and share part of their territory with a neighbouring troop. Breeding takes place at different times of year in different parts of the range. A single offspring is the norm, with females giving birth for the first time when about five years old.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1154701 tantalus monkey Mammals of West Africa Fauna of Central Africa Mammals of the Central African Republic Mammals of Chad Mammals of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Mammals of Kenya Mammals of Cameroon Mammals of South Sudan Mammals of Sudan Mammals of Uganda tantalus monkey Taxa named by William Ogilby