Red-bellied guenon  (Cercopithecus erythrogaster)

The red-bellied guenon is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List (1) and listed on Appendix II of CITES (3). Subspecies: the red-bellied monkey (C. e. erythrogaster) is classified as Endangered (EN) and the Nigerian white-throated guenon (C. e. pococki) is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List (1).

The red-bellied guenon (Cercopithecus erythrogaster) is a little-known primate with a mousy brown coat and a reddish-grey underbelly (2) (4), a feature which both its common and scientific name refer to; the scientific name of this species, erythrogaster, originates from the Greek words ‘erythros’  meaning ‘red’ and ‘gaster’ meaning ‘belly’ (5). The red-bellied guenon has a black face with a contrasting white beard and throat (2) (4) and, like all guenons, this monkey has a roundish head, a slight build, long hind limbs, a long tail, and cheek pouches for storing food (6). The name ‘guenon’ comes from the French word for ‘fright’ and refers to the baring of teeth when these monkeys are excited or distressed (6).

The red-bellied guenon occurs in scattered populations in south-western Nigeria, southern Benin and Togo (1).

The arboreal red-bellied guenon inhabits moist primary and secondary forest often near a river or stream, where it spends much of its time in the canopy (1) (2) (6).

The red-bellied guenon is a social animal which lives in troops containing between 5 and 30 individuals (1) (6). Guenon troops generally comprise a single dominant adult male, a number of adult females and their young (6).

Although the breeding biology of this species is not fully understood, it is likely to be similar to that of other guenon species, which typically mate during July to September and give birth to a single young after a gestation period of around six months (6). The young guenon clings to the underside of its mother as they travel through the forest, with their tails entwined (6).

Guenons are diurnal primates, mainly active in the early morning or late afternoon (6). The red-bellied guenon feeds predominantly on fruits and seeds, but it also eats leaves, the quantity of which increases when fruit is in short supply, and supplements its diet with small birds, reptiles and insects (6) (7).

Habitat destruction is regarded as the greatest threat to the red-bellied guenon (1) (8). Forest within this species’ range has already been heavily degraded and the remaining patches of forest remain threatened by timber extraction and conversion to agricultural land (1). In addition, the red-bellied guenon is hunted by local people for meat, and without hunting restrictions this will continue to have a negative impact on this rare primate (1) (4).

The red-bellied guenon occurs in a number of forest reserves (1), including the Okumu Forest Wildlife Sanctuary, which is an area of around 1,082 square kilometres designed specifically to protect the red-bellied guenon by preventing poaching and deforestation in the area (9). However, greater protection is required for its remaining forest habitat, along with hunting restrictions (1), if the future of this attractive primate is to be secured.

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

To find out about wildlife conservation in Nigeria see:

• Nigerian Conservation Foundation:
  http://www.ncfnigeria.org/
• Centre for Education, Research and Conservation of Primates and Nature:
  http://www.cercopan.org/