The Golden monkey (Cercopithecus khanti), is endemic and so exclusive to the magnificent Virunga volcanic mountains of Central Africa These beautiful creatures occur in 4 national parks – Mgahinga (south-west Uganda), Volcanoes (north-west Rwanda), Virunga and Kahuzi-Biéga (eastern Democratic Republic of Congo).
As you may be able to guess, the Golden monkey gets its name for its eye-catching coloring. The tails of the Golden monkey are bright, vibrant, golden orange, as are its cheeks, and patches of its back and torso. This poses a sharp contrast to its jet-black legs and head for a visually stunning effect. The Golden monkey has a soft pelt, a round head, short ears and a tail as long as or longer than its body length72 centimeters long. A pair of bright and beautiful eyes sparkles on its azure-blue face. Golden monkey males have a reddish color on their back and on the dorsal part of their sides as well as some grizzled darker patches. Females are lighter in color and have less grizzled brown patches.
Golden monkeys are highly social animals, forming groups of 30 – 80 individuals. Each of these units is dominated by a single mature male. The group size varies with elevation; as a general rule, groups at higher elevations are smaller. Females are constantly with the group to defend the territory, whereas males usually remain with the group temporarily, leaving it after a while. These beautiful monkeys are diurnal and arboreal.
The Golden monkey has been known to snack on up to 30 species of plants, but its favorite food is bamboo. The Golden monkey can adapt its meals to the seasons, in the dry season they eat almost exclusively fruits, while in the rainy season they primarily dine upon bamboo shoots and buds of other plants.
Scientists have observed Golden monkeys using calls for a variety of purposes. Males primarily use their calls as signs of aggression and territorial defensiveness, while female calls have more social functions, such as identifying themselves as part of a group. The young of the group will use calls to demonstrate their submissiveness. In addition to vocalizations, Golden monkeys have highly emotive features and are known to communicate with each other through these facial expressions.
According to the IUCN, the Golden monkey has been an endangered species since 1996. The IUCN includes the Golden monkey on this list for a few reasons. The Golden monkey is estimated to have a population of only 2,500-3,500, and this population is dwindling.
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