Vervet monkeys
Vervet monkeys belong to the group of guenon-like primates and are primarily found in Central Africa.
The name of the animals comes from the hussar rider, as the monkeys reach a high speed when running and also have a red color like the riders.
Appearance
What characterizes the hussar monkeys above all? As already mentioned above, the fur has a reddish coloration, which becomes lighter towards the underside and the cheek beard, up to white-grey. This cheek beard, which is very pronounced especially in the males, gives the animals a mane-like appearance. There are several subspecies of hussar monkeys, and the white-nosed hussar monkeys should be mentioned here, which are characterized by a white spot on the tip of the nose.
In order to achieve the high running speeds, their body structure is slender but strong. Furthermore, the limbs are very long in proportion, so that they can move quickly even in difficult terrain. The males are much larger than the females, but this does not necessarily make them faster runners.
Lifestyle
Where do the hussar monkeys mainly live in Africa? As already mentioned above, the primates are found in the countries Senegal, Ethiopia and Tanzania, which are located in Central and East Africa. In order to make use of their high speed, the animals prefer flat grassland or savannas with only a few trees or bushes. The lifestyle of the monkeys is determined above all by life on the ground; unlike other species of guenons, they do not have elaborate defense strategies, but rely more on their speed. This enables the animals to reach a top speed of up to 55 km/h, making them the fastest primates in the world. Like many African mammals, the hussar monkeys are diurnal, retreating to the trees of the savanna to sleep in order not to be easily eaten by predators.
