Greater spot-nosed guenon (Cercopithecus nictitans)

Description

Greater spot-nosed guenon fact file

• Description
• Biology
• Range
• Habitat
• Status
• Threats
• Conservation
• Find out more
• Glossary
• References
• Print factsheet

Greater spot-nosed guenon description

One of the larger guenon species, the greater spot-nosed guenon’s name is derived from the striking, bright, white patch found on the nose ⁽²⁾. The coat is finely speckled dark olive and blackish-grey on the upperparts, while the extremities, belly and tail are black ^{(2) (3)}.

Also known as

Greater white-nosed monkey, putty-nosed monkey, spot-nosed guenon, white-nosed guenon.

French

Hocheur.

Size

Head-body length: 43 – 70 cm ⁽²⁾

Female weight: 4.3 kg ⁽³⁾

Male weight: 6.7 kg ⁽³⁾

Greater spot-nosed guenon biology

Noisy and gregarious, the tree-dwelling greater spot-nosed guenon generally lives in large groups of between 12 and 30 animals, comprising a single adult male, with several females and their young ^{(1) (5)}.This species is frequently found in close association with related guenon species, such as the crowned guenon (Cercopithecus pogonias), forming large, mixed-species groups. This helps to protect against predation, and also allows the sharing of information about the best foraging locations ⁽⁶⁾. While the bulk of the greater spot-nosed guenon’s diet consists of fruit, seeds and leaves, it will also eat insects and agricultural crops ^{(2) (3)}.

Male greater spot-nosed guenons produce a range of vocalizations including deep, booming calls to advertise status and presence, as well as “pyow” and “hack” alarm calls. Incredibly, the sequence of these two alarm calls can convey information to other greater spot-nosed guenons about what kind of predator is nearby, for example, whether it is a bird of prey or a leopard, allowing the group to take the appropriate evasive action ⁽⁵⁾.

Greater spot-nosed guenon mating systems are usually polygynous, with the lone male in each group having exclusive breeding access to all the females ^{(5) (7)}. Breeding is likely to occur throughout the year ⁽⁷⁾, with the females giving birth to a single young ⁽²⁾ after a gestation period of around five or six months ^{(3) (7)}.

Greater spot-nosed guenon range

Although the taxonomic status of this species is still unclear, there are currently two generally recognised subspecies of greater spot-nosed guenon, which are found in different locations. The most widespread subspecies, Cercopithecus nictitans nictitans is found from southern parts of Cameroon and the Central African Republic, southwards, through northern Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. In contrast, Cercopithecus nictitans martini is found north of the Sanaga River in Cameroon, and in western and southern Nigeria. Isolated populations also occur in Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire and on the island of Bioko ⁽¹⁾.

Greater spot-nosed guenon habitat

The greater spot-nosed guenon is primarily found in lowland and montane primary tropical rainforest, but also occurs in forested areas bordering rivers, and in secondary forest ^{(1) (2)}.

Greater spot-nosed guenon status

Classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List ⁽¹⁾ and listed on Appendix II of CITES ⁽⁴⁾. Subspecies: Cercopithecus nictitans martini classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List ⁽¹⁾.

Greater spot-nosed guenon threats

The main threats faced by the greater spot-nosed guenon are habitat loss, through deforestation for timber and agricultural land, and hunting for meat. Currently these threats are most prevalent in the western part of this species’ range, where the subspecies Cercopithecus nictitans martini occurs. In particular, on Bioko Island, where hunting pressure is severe, the population of Cercopithecus nictitans martini has undergone a severe decline, with 50 percent of the population lost between 1986 and 2006. As a result, this subspecies is considered to be more at risk than Cercopithecus nictitans nictitans, and is therefore classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN ⁽¹⁾.

A further concern for this species is the uncertainty about its taxonomic status. At present, there are a number of differing forms of greater spot-nosed guenon that are grouped under the subspecies Cercopithecus nictitans martini. Should these groups become recognised as distinct subspecies, many would be considered to be perilously close to extinction ⁽¹⁾.

Greater spot-nosed guenon conservation

The greater spot-nosed guenon occurs in a number of protected areas throughout its range, and is therefore safeguarded to some extent from habitat loss ⁽¹⁾. In order to protect this species against unsustainable levels of international trade, the greater spot-nosed guenon is listed on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) ⁽³⁾. In addition, this species is listed on Class B of the African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, and therefore legal hunting requires authorisation ^{(1) (8)}.

Despite these controls, the bushmeat trade for the greater spot-nosed guenon—along with many other species—continues to grow ^{(9) (10)}. To combat this, on Bioko, the Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program is working to protect the island’s threatened wildlife by patrolling protected areas to deter hunters, and by developing research and educational programs ⁽⁹⁾. At an international level, the Bushmeat Crisis Task Force, a consortium of several conservation organisations, is working with governments, organisations and the general public in order to eliminate unsustainable and illegal bushmeat hunting practices worldwide ⁽¹⁰⁾.

To learn more about a Whitley Award-winning conservation project for this species, click here.

View information on this species at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre.

Find out more

To learn more about conservation issues surrounding the bushmeat trade visit:

• The Bushmeat Crisis Task Force:
  www.bushmeat.org
• Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program:
  www.bioko.org

Authentication

Authenticated (16/04/2009) by Matthew Richardson, primatologist and author

Glossary

Gestation

The state of being pregnant; the period from conception to birth.

Montane

Of mountains, or growing in mountains.

Polygynous

Animals in which males have more than one female partner.

Primary

Referring to forest that has remained undisturbed for a long time and has reached a mature condition.

Secondary forest

Forest that has re-grown after a major disturbance, such as fire or timber harvest, but has not yet reached the mature state of primary forest.

Subspecies

A population usually restricted to a geographical area that differs from other populations of the same species, but not to the extent of being classified as a separate species.

Taxonomic

Relating to the scientific classification of organisms.

References

1. IUCN Red List (January, 2009)
   http://www.iucnredlist.org
2. Alden, P.C., Estes, R.D., Schlitter, D. and McBride, B. (1996) Collins Guide to African Wildlife. HarperCollins Publishers, London.
3. Macdonald, D. (2001) The New Encyclopedia of Mammals. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
4. CITES (January, 2009)
   http://www.cites.org
5. Arnold, K. and Zuberbühler, K. (2006) The alarm-calling system of adult male putty-nosed monkeys, Cercopithecus nictitans martini. Animal Behaviour, 72: 643 - 653.
6. Boinski, S. and Garber, P.A. (2000) On the Move: How and why Animals Travel in Groups. University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
7. Nowak, R.M. (1999) Walker's Mammals of the World. Sixth Edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore and London.
8. African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (January, 2009)
   http://sedac.ciesin.org/entri/texts/african.conv.conserva.1969.html
9. Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program (January, 2009)
   http://www.bioko.org/wildlife/nictitans.asp
10. The Bushmeat Crisis Task Force (January, 2009)
    http://www.bushmeat.org