The
Vervet Monkey is a small
monkey with a
greenish coat of
fur and whiskers. The skin of
abdomen is a
blue color. They are 18-26 inches long and weigh between 7 and 10 pounds.
Scientific Name: Cercopithecus aethiops.
Habitat: They live south of the Sahara in west, south, and eastern Africa. They live mainly in woodlands, and are able to co-exist well with human populations.
Diet: The Vervet Monkey is an omnivore. They prefer grass, but also eat small insects and reptiles for protein.
Social Organization: They live in groups of 20-50 individuals. Females of this species usually live together in groups, while males may be fairly solitary or live in smaller groups.
Wacky Trivia: The male Vervet Monkey is forced to leave his home group when he enters puberty. The signal that he has started to enter puberty is when his penis turns a bright red. Considering that his scrotal region is blue, this certainly makes for an ostentatious combination.