Cercopithecidae (Sub-family of Primates)

Cercopithecidae, from Greek κερκοπῐ́θηκος (kerkopíthēkos, “longtailed ape”), in reference to the long tails presents in these species.

Common names of members

Talapoin, guenon, colobus, douc, vervet, babbons, gelada, mangabey, langur, mandrill, surili, patas, and proboscis monkey.

Distribution

Mainly sub-saharan Africa and southern and southeastern and eastern Asia.

Size

They are medium to large in size, from 34–37 cm in length, and weighing between 0.7 and 1.3 kilograms, to around 70 cm in length, and weighing up to 50 kilograms across species.

Morphology

They range from arboreal forms to fully terrestrial forms, with no prehensile tails. They have distinctive facial features such as elongated muzzles and a variety of dental arrangements. Limb proportions vary among species, influencing their agility and arboreal or terrestrial behavior.

Habitat & Ecology

They inhabit mountainous areas, savannas, shrublands, and tropical rainforests.

Diet

Although they are mostly omnivores, the majority of them favor plant stuff, which makes up the majority of their diet. While some species only eat a limited variety of insects and mostly live on leaves, others are extremely opportunistic and will eat nearly anything that is available, including insects, tiny vertebrates, flowers, leaves, bulbs, and rhizomes.

Reproduction

The gestation period spans five to seven months. Single births are the norm, but twin births do happen infrequently. The young are able to grip their mother's fur with their hands from birth and are born fairly well-developed. They mature sexually later than most other mammals; most species need four to six years to attain sexual maturity.