Description
Scientific name: Cercopithecus neglectus
Life span: Up to 30 years in captivity
The adult De Brazza’s monkey has dark black limbs, a white tail, and gray agouti hair with a brown-reddish back. Cheek pouches are present in both males and females and are used to store food when foraging. De Brazza’s monkey males are much bigger in size as compared to females. Males may reach a height of 64 cm and a weight of 7-8 kg, while females can reach a height of 41 cm and a weight of 4-5 kg. They exhibit sexual dimorphism. Females have a reddish-colored perianal area and prominent nipples, while males have a prominent blue-colored scrotum. Infants have a uniform brown hue with some beards, while juveniles lack the deeper colors on their extremities that adults have. However, juveniles still have their red rump and white stripes. They feed on fruits, grass, herbs, seeds, and small insects.
Native Region/Habitat
The De Brazza’s monkey is endemic to Congo, Central Africa, and Brazzaville. They are found in tropical forests, dense forests, swamps, riverine, and vegetation.
As Pet
Behavior/Temperament
De Brazza’s monkeys are arboreal and terrestrial animals. They are social animals and prefer to live in groups of 5- 10 individuals. In captivity, they also communicate with other animals. They jump and climb trees when feeling threatened. They are diurnal in nature. De Brazza’s monkeys are also good swimmers. They love to roam by climbing and swinging around tree branches. They also show aggressive behavior by shaking trees. They are very rare in captivity.
Care/Grooming
De Brazza’s monkeys need a large enclosure that must have indoor and outdoor setups. The enclosure must have safety glass walls, plant vegetation, ropes, trees, and grassland. As they are good swimmers, there must be a small water pool for them so that they can enjoy themselves there. Cages must be clean and tidy on a regular basis to avoid bacterial and viral infections.
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