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Sooty mangabey(Cercocebus atys)
Phylum —chordata
Class — mammalia
Order — primates
Family — cercopithecidae
Genus – сercocebus
Appearance
The Sooty mangabey is characterized by, and gains its name, from its pelage color, which ranges from gray to brown-gray. The color is somewhat lighter on the ventral surfaces, sometimes almost appearing light blue, and is darker on the extremities. The face is grayish-pink with a darker muzzle and ears. The long cheek whiskers are lighter than the body.
There is a high level of sexual dimorphism between males and females. Female Sooty mangabeys average 5.5 kg (12.13 lb) and males average 10.2 kg (22.49 lb).
Habitat
The Sooty mangabey is native to tropical West Africa, being found in Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast.
Behavior
The species is best described as being primarily terrestrial. The vast majority of Sooty mangabey movement is quadrupedal, with over 80% of locomotion being of this type. In addition, over 75% of the Sooty mangabey's movement occurs terrestrially and the remainder is mostly restricted to lower levels of forest strata. Climbing and leaping by the Sooty mangabey occurs primarily in the understory, shrub layer and on the ground. During rest periods, the Sooty mangabey prefers to seek out something to sit on, including fallen branches or other items resting on the forest floor, rather than sitting directly on the ground.
Diet
The staples of their diet include fruits, seeds and invertebrates, with seeds making up 68% of the diet and invertebrates making up 26%.
Reproduction
Sooty mangabeys are polygynandrous (promiscuous) which means that both males and females have numerous mates. Females give birth to a single infant after the gestation period that lasts around 160-180 days. Infants are born alrticial (naked with their eyes closed) and weigh 500-600 g. The young are nursed and protected until 8 to 9 months of the age and become fully independent when they are 4-5 years old.
Maximum longevity of the Sooty mangabey is 18 years.
In captivity
Mangabeys are well tamed in captivity. Minimum enclosure size for one gibbon is 2*2*2 meters. The door should be large, with a sliding tray at the bottom. In the aviary, you need to install thick branches of fruit trees, a rope, and a ladder (you can buy it in a children's sports store).
Bowls should be thick and with high sides, preferably metal.
When monkeys are getting used to diapers the kipper should use the smallest children's ones, for particularly small monkeys are suitable "for premature babies".
Diet:
- fruits: apples, pears, bananas, kiwi, grapes, mango, papaya, oranges, tangerines (a little);
- vegetables: cucumbers, carrots, asparagus, broccoli, lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, cabbage, boiled potatoes;
- meat: chicken, turkey-cooked;
– eggs-quail, chicken-boiled;
- vitamin supplement: Vitamin D3, Vitamins B12 for animals.
Monkeys are very intelligent animals, and like all developed animals, they need to play often and a lot. The keeper may use toys, it is better to buy them in a store for children.
