Savanna Monkey
Savanna monkeys are medium-sized monkeys.
The entire body is covered with a thick golden yellow with greenish tones of fur, which is also the origin of the name.
Savanna monkeys live in savanna areas near rivers and streams and prefer tree-lined areas.
Although green monkeys prefer specific environmental conditions, they are easily adapted to a variety of habitats.
In Africa, savanna monkeys live in areas bordering forested grasslands in the southern Sahara desert.
These areas usually have low, dense foliage and tall grasses.
Savanna monkeys move near the edges of these transitional forests, occurring between forest edges and savanna crossings.
They avoid the dense, moist forest interior.
Savanna monkeys also live in the coastal areas of West Africa.
Although living conditions here are poor, the destruction of their original habitat and human deforestation has forced these animals to migrate.
In the Caribbean, savanna monkeys occupy a variety of habitats, including mangrove swamps, farming areas, and highly populated urban environments.
Savanna monkeys often move to the ground. They are good climbers, runners, and swimmers.
Clans vary widely, with large groups ranging in size from 7 to 80 individuals per group.
Female savanna monkeys remain in their family groups until they reach sexual maturity, while adult males leave their original families.
This helps avoid inbreeding and increases the spread of desired genes.
Savanna monkeys have territorial overlaps in many habitats.
Male savanna monkeys determine dominance by fighting or, social rank determines the number of resources available to teammates.
The savanna monkey is a very vocal primate.
The main purpose of vocalization is to alert members of the family of danger.
Savanna monkeys are able to use different calls to distinguish between various enemies and levels of danger, and males are also able to communicate through body language.
They use a more subtle form of communication through facial expressions.
Studies have shown that facial expressions are related to emotional states.
Anger, exuberance, and even emotional frustration show different facial expressions.
Savanna monkeys use facial expressions to indicate danger or satisfaction, depending on the situation.
Savanna monkeys feed mainly on fruits and leaves. Food resources depend on the year and environmental conditions.
During the dry season or after a fire, only small amounts of fruit can be found, at which point savanna monkeys will go to various parts of the grassland to forage for edible plants, including grass leaves and roots, which have little nutrition.
However, when rains are plentiful and the fruit becomes more abundant, fruits are usually collected, including wild bananas, papayas, and mangoes.
In the wild, savanna monkeys typically use cheek pouches to store and carry food.
These cheek pouches are present in all members of the monkey family.
This behavior protects them from retaining valuable food and allows prairie monkeys to continue collecting food for as long as they can.
Savanna monkeys are highly fruit-eating animals.
They have a great role in the entire ecosystem, spreading plant seeds.
In addition, their diet is primarily herbivorous, which does not compete with insects, birds, bats, and other primate species.
The high population density of savanna monkeys makes them a food source for many predators.
Natural predators include African felines and raptors, and sometimes baboons capture savanna monkeys.
These are the savanna monkeys that live in the savanna.