L'Hoest's Monkey
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[Photo] Illustration of L'Hoest's Monkey (Cercopithecus l'hoesti). Source: http://www.classicnatureprints.com/pr.Smit Mammals/smit.mam1.index.html Artist: Joseph Smit

L'Hoest's Monkey (Cercopithecus l'hoesti), or Mountain Monkey, is a guenon found in Cameroon and the Congo basin. There are two distinct populations and subspecies of this monkey which are widely separated in distribution. They mostly live in mountainous forest areas in small, female-dominated groups. They have a dark coat and can be distinguished by a characteristic white beard.

Taxonomy
L'Hoest's Monkey is a member of the genus Cercopithecus, and closely resembles Hamlyn's Monkey in size and distribution. Recent studies have shown that the subspecies C. l'hoesti preussi on the west coast of Africa is distinct enough and has been elevated to a full species, Preuss's Monkey C. preussi. Together with the Sun-tailed Monkey, C. solatus, Preuss's and L'Hoest's make up a tight grouping within the Cercopithecus genus.

Population

Distribution
L'Hoest's Monkey has two very distinct populations which are separated by more than 1609 km wide gap, where no C. l'hoesti have been found to occupy. One occurs in the east of the upper Congo basin and southwest Uganda. The other, a much geographically smaller distribution, occurs in western Cameroon and eastern Nigeria. It has an eastern limit at about 31°E, and a western limit at about 8°E near the Cross River. The eastern population will extend as far north as 2°N, slightly north of the Ituri River, and occurs to the south to just beyond the Ulindi River at about 2°30'S.

The status and abundance of this monkey is unknown in most of its range. It is common in Cameroon but is in a bad position due to its small and shrinking range. The eastern population also has an undetermined status, where it has been reported as common in one area and uncommon in another. There are few estimates as to the population densities of this species. Struhsaker (1969) indicates a density of 5 to 8 C. l'hoesti per square km occurring in the Kibale National Park, Uganda. Studies on the number of individuals per group varied, one indicated 5 to 8 with rarely large groups, while others found and average of 10 or 17. One study found that each group of C. l'hoesti had a home range of 7 to 10 km².

Habitat
L'Hoest's Monkey is a forest monkey, which is typical of the moist and high primary forests. The western race is mostly relegated to mountainous regions, rain forests in an elevation above 1000 m, as well as old secondary and mature forests. It has also been found to inhabit isolated forest patches in mountain grasslands. The eastern population occurs in a wider number of habitats. It will occupy a range of different kinds of forested areas, including gallery forest, mature lowland rain forests, wooded savanna at mountain slopes, and forest borders. However, it also will live on cultivated lands. In lowland forests it shows a preference toward areas where the forest is regenerating, while in mountain areas it will frequent the mature, tangled, undergrowth below the broken canopy. One study found this population only above 900 m but another found it as low as 610 m (2000 ft). Another mostly observed it from 1500 to 2500 m. They make their homes in remarkable nests in trees.

Behavior
C. l'hoesti lives in fairly small groups dominated by females and have only a single male. The females are usually related, while the male stays only a couple of weeks or at most a couple of years. The adult male will make very loud and distinct calls. They are active during the day, mostly during early morning and late afternoon. They sleep in trees in a sitting position, usually either holding branches or each other. When they are alarmed or see they are being observed they will flee and take shelter in trees, and after become very still. They are mostly terrestrial.

Breeding
L'Hoest's Monkey breeds seasonally, which depends on the area. After about a five month gestation period, a single young will be born. The mother gives birth typically at night and where ever she happens to be at the time. Birth usually occurs at the end of the dry season, which allows lactation when rainfall is highest. She will eat the placenta and lick the baby clean while it hangs onto to her belly. The other females in the group will show much interest in the newborn and will try to hold it. After a few months nursing becomes less frequent, but will continue for about two years when there is another birth. When male offspring reach sexual maturity they will leave the group. In captivity they have been known to live for more than 30 years.

Diet
In the wild C. l'hoesti is primarily an herbivore, which will mostly eat fruit, mushrooms, herbs, roots, and leaves. However, it will also occasionally eat eggs, lizards, and small birds.

Physical characteristics
C. l'hoesti has a short, dark brown coat, with a chestnut color across the back and a dark belly. Its cheeks are light gray with a pale moustache. The eastern population has a characteristic and prominent white bib, while the western race has a smaller one. The western population however has a facial mask of a black nose and black mouth which very much follows the pattern of the C. nictitans. In body length it is 12.5 to 27 inches, with a 19 to 39 inch tail. The male weighs about 6 kg, while the smaller female weighs 3.5 kg. Its tail is long and hook-shaped at the end. They are born fully-coated and with their eyes open.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%27Hoest%27s_Monkey

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