Reproduction

Their is some seasonal variation in breeding season though it tends to fall between April and June meaning the young are born at the end of the rainy season. This ensures an ample food supply.

Females give birth to a single infant after a 5.5 month gestation period. Twins are possible but considered uncommon. At birth the juveniles have black fur and a pink face. They will not take on the adult coloration till three or four months old.

The first few weeks of their life is spent clinging to the mother's stomach. By three weeks old they are moving around on their own.

Infants are a popular part of the group and females seek access to hold or groom the infant.

A female vervet will remain in her birth group for life while males must leave at sexual maturity and join another group. This process puts them in danger and often they will complete this during the breeding season when the group they are attempting to enter is distracted.

Often the male will go with a sibling or peer to provide back-up when arriving at the new group.

Babies are weaned off of milk by eight or nine months old.

Females mature by 3 years old with males reaching this milestone at 5 years old. In captivity females may mature as early as 2 years old.

Behavior

Vervet monkeys have a unique call for each predator which they may come across. Their vocalizations also express their mood with calls that express alarm, excitement, rage and sadness.

The different predator calls will each evoke a different group response which is most efficient for evading that particular predator.

Grooming is important to remove parasites, dirt and other material from the fur. Dominant individuals get groomed more often. Grooming is also part of courtship activities during mating season.

Dominant males will hold their tail in a stiff position above them and then walk past the lower ranked males.

These primates are highly social with a group size of up to 50 individuals.

The large group size is an adaptation which helps to identify predators more easily and to defend against rival groups which may seek to enter their territory.

Across most of their range a troop of vervet monkeys will defend their habitat and its resources against other troops. In areas with abundant resources they will allow other groups to move through their territory as they move around.

At night they will take to the trees where they can sleep. They keep them safe from some of their predators.

Predators and Threats

Natural predators of the vervet monkey include leopards, hyenas, snakes, baboons and eagles.

Humans often view vervet monkeys as pests of farms due to their habitat of stealing food. This has created an annual slaughter which is carried out by poisoning or shooting.

These animals are also trapped for use in research and for the bushmeat trade.

Despite their adaptability the primary threat to the vervet monkey is habitat destruction and fragmentation.

Quick facts

Five subspecies of the vervet monkey are recognized.