South African Vervet Monkey (Green Monkey) Cercopithecus a. pygerythrus

All You Need To Know About The Vervet Monkey

The Vervet Monkey is arguably South Africa's most well known and heard primate. This small primate is often referred to as the Blue Monkey, because of the Afrikaans name for this creature: Blou Aap. This is incorrect as the Vervet Monkey's cousin, the Samango Monkey, is known as the Blue Monkey. The other common name for the Vervet Monkey in South Africa is the Green Monkey. It is all really confusing, but I am sure you will of caught on at the end of this page! The Vervet Monkey is well known in areas that have taken over this primates natural habitat. They are opportunistic and will stay in the areas like rest camps, towns, picnic spots etc. These smart primates will then take advantage of any food that is left lying around and in turn become problem animals. In some areas Vervet Monkeys steal food right out of peoples hands, these vermin antics are noticed and the individual Monkeys that no longer have any fears of humans are shot.

Vervet Monkey Description

The Vervet Monkey is a small primate and it's coat is predominately light grey and white. They have very long tails, which help them when they are in their natural habitat, the trees. The belly and flanks of the Vervet Monkey are much lighter than the upper parts of it's body. They have dark black faces with a stretch of white hair that almost frames these primates' face. The Green Monkey is smaller and weighs less than the Samango Monkey and is much more common. The end point of the tail and the Monkeys feet and hands are also very dark. They have blue coloured genitalia which is why some people call them the Blue Monkey.

Vervet Monkey Distribution And Habitat

This mischievous Monkey is found in the northern top corner of South Africa up until about the Johannesburg region. They are also found in abundance along the South African coast line and in the Free State and Northern Cape. The Vervet Monkey prefers areas that have a constant water supply and like woodland and occasionally forest habitats.

How Big Is A Vervet Monkey?

An average sized Vervet Monkey can weigh anything from 3 kilograms up to 9 kilograms. The latter weight is normally reached by large dominant male monkeys. The tale length can be anything between 50 cm and 70 cm which on average is longer than the body length (40cm-70cm).

Vervet Monkey Behavior

The Vervet Monkey is strictly diurnal and not arboreal. During the day many monkeys (That form troops), there are normally between 10 and 30 maximum in a troop, forage along the ground for food, in the open and below the tree tops. But at the first sign of danger an alarm call will be signaled and the troop will disappear high up to where it is safe. Vervet Monkeys are very social and territorial South African primates. A troop is made up of a dominant male monkey, females, other lower ranking males and the young ones. The social lives of the Vervet Monkey are filled up with a lot of grooming, this keeps the social structure strong in each troop.

Food And Diet Of A Vervet Monkey

The Vervet Monkey is mainly a vegetarian primate that eats a wide range of fruits, bark, seeds, flowers, leaves and even grass. Although when the opportunity arises this mammal will feed upon a large variety of invertebrates and small vertebrates, such as young birds.

Predators Of The Vervet Monkey

The Vervet Monkey has many predators, small and large. The primary predators of the Vervet Monkey are the Leopard, Martial Eagle, Crowned Eagle and South African Rock Python. They also have many other predators that will try and catch them but are not always successful, these include: African Lion, African Cheetah, Spotted Hyaena, Black Backed Jackal, Side Striped Jackal, Serval, Caracal, Nile Crocodile and even a distant relative... The Chacma Baboon!

Other Names Of The Vervet or Green Monkey

Afrikaans- Blou Aap

Swati/Zulu- Inkawu

Sotho- Kgabo

French- Vervet

German- Sudafrikanische Grune Meerkatze

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