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Patas Monkey
Erythrocebus patas
Patas monkeys are the world’s fastest primates. They live in open areas such as the savannas of West Africa, in groups comprised of a female hierarchy and a dominant male.
Range & Habitat
In the Wild: Savannas, open brush and grasslands of equatorial Africa. They have also been introduced to the island of Puerto Rico.
At the Zoo: Social Animals and Primate Park
Conservation Status: Near Threatened
Near Threatened; habitat loss, trapping and hunting for bushmeat are leading to population decline in some areas.
Diet
In the Wild: Grasses, berries, seeds, fruit, insects, lizards, young birds, eggs, fish, pods, leaves, gum and flowers of acacia trees.
At the Zoo: Monkey biscuits, canned primate diet, fruit, nuts, vegetables and greens.
Life Span
In the Wild: 12-20 years; In Human Care: Over 20 years.
Fun Facts about the Patas Monkey
- Patas monkeys communicate through visual cues rather than vocalizations; however, they do have alarm calls that vary depending on the source of danger.
- Patas monkeys are the fastest primate with a maximum speed of over 30 miles per hour. Unlike other monkey species, they live mostly on the ground.
- Patas monkeys run in an easy loping gait, which is different from any other monkey.
Sources
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. (2008, June 30). Retrieved May 26, 2020, from https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/8073/12884516
Patas monkey. (2016). Retrieved May 26, 2020, from https://www.zoobarcelona.cat/en/animals/patas-monkey
Patas Monkey. (2019, October 21). Retrieved May 26, 2020, from https://a-z-animals.com/animals/patas-monkey/
Patas Monkey. (2020). Retrieved May 26, 2020, from https://switchzoo.com/profiles/patasmonkey.htm
Updated June 13, 2023
Location:
Primate Park
Location:
Social Animals
