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| Latin name | Erythrocebus patas |
| Head & Body Length | 61-89cm |
| Tail Length | 51-76cm |
| Weight | Male 7-13kg, female 4-7kg |
| Gestation | 7.5 to 8 months |
| No. of young | 1 |
| Lifespan | 15-20 years in the wild; 20+ in captivity |
Patas Monkeys are found in Africa, ranging from Senegal to Ethiopia and Tanzania to the southern edge of the Sahara. They will inhabit open bush and grass savannah regions. They will avoid dense forest area but will use trees to shade from the sun. Patas Monkeys are capable of withstanding arid conditions such as those found in these areas.
Patas Monkeys are omnivorous and rely on pods, seeds, gall, young leaves, gum and flowers from Acacia trees. They may also eat grasses, berries, seeds, fruits, insects, eggs, lizards, young birds and small animals. They cannot dig to find food effectively due to their short toes and fingers. They do obtain moisture from the plants they eat but Patas Monkeys still need to drink water at least once a day, especially in hot, dry weather. They are ground dwelling and may travel 0.3-9 miles per day in search of food. They posses cheek pouches which can carry food whilst they are foraging. They are active during the day although during the hottest part of the day, troops may rest in the shade of a tree.
A typical troop of Patas Monkeys consists of one adult male, known as the ‘harem male’, several females and youngsters of various ages. There are also groups consisting solely of males who have reached sexual maturity and have not yet found their own troops or who have been expelled from a troop. The function of the harem male is not to lead the group, as the highest-ranking female does this, but to act as a look out for predators. If he fulfills this role and does not get expelled by another male, he can parent the offspring of the females.
Females will initiate the mating process by puffing up their cheeks, pursing their lips, and making moaning calls. The gestation period is 7.5 to 8 months and a single young is born. Newborns are 6% of their mothers body weight and mothers can be extremely protective of their offspring.
Patas Monkeys have slender bodies with long arms and legs of the same length and a long tail. Their bodies are narrow and their rib cages are prominent. They have well-developed hands with opposable thumbs. Their coats are reddish tan with grey in colour with white legs and hands. Males posses long shoulder hair, giving the impression of a mane. Their faces are black to light grey in colour and can be very expressive.
Their predators in the wild are leopards, cheetahs, eagles, hyenas and jackals. The harem male will keep watch by standing on two feet and peering over the tall grass or by climbing onto a tree. If he catches sight of a predator, he will make a soft chirping noise to alert the rest of his troop. Females and youngsters will crouch silently in the grass while the male performs a conspicuous diversion display by bouncing noisily in the branches before rushing off in the opposite direction, allowing the females and young to get away. As Patas Monkeys are so fast and agile, they rarely stand and fight. They will rely on the speed to escape from danger.
Patas Monkeys are quiet and will not make loud calling noises. Their characteristic contact call is a low moan or moo. They have different alarm calls for different circumstances with males and females making different calls. They will bark upon meeting another troop.
Patas Monkeys are diurnal and terrestrial, spending their time on the ground. They will only climb trees when on the look out for predators. As night approaches, each troop will split and each monkey will go to a separate tree. Their style and habits are similar to baboons, also terrestrial monkeys.
Patas Monkeys are important in their habitat because as fruit eaters they aid seed dispersal. They are also an important food source for animals such as cheetahs and jackals. Patas Monkeys are under threat due to people hunting them for meat. They are considered a pest on crops so farmers will shot them to protect their crops. It was also once believed that the flesh of a Patas Monkey could cure leprosy so many were hunted for this purpose. It is thought that over one thousand monkeys are caught every year to supply monkeys for the pet trade and for animal research. They are also threatened by the conversion of their savannah habitats to grasslands. However, in some areas deforestation has converted humid areas into drier savannah zones, thus increasing suitable habitat for Patas Monkeys.
- Patas Monkeys can store as much food in their cheeks as they can in their stomachs.
- Because of their speed, colouring and gait, Patas Monkeys have often been mistaken for cheetahs whilst running.
- Patas Monkeys are the world’s fastest species of primate. When required, they can go from 0 to 33mph in three seconds.
- If a jackal were to grab a baby monkey, the mother and other females as well as males from other groups would chase it. They will give chase for a considerable distance, even after the jackal has dropped the baby.
- When relaxed, Patas Monkeys lean back and put their feet up.
- Male Patas Monkeys have proportionally the longest canines of any primate.