| Mona Monkey, photographed at Grand Etang National Park, Grenada. Mona monkeys, (Cercopithicus mona) inhabit west Africa from Ghana to Cameroon, with perhaps the largest populations in Nigeria. They use the canopy of rainforests, woodlands and mangrove swamps, but will visit farmlands and gardens in search of food. They are one of 20 species of Guenons, named the French philosopher Rene Guenon. Their diet is composed of : fruit, foliage, roots, seeds, grains, honey, insects, bird eggs, and gastropods (snails). Monas store food in cheek pouches which can hold about as much food as their stomachs. Their digestive systems are simple compared with those species that specialize in eating leaves. The Mona Monkey was introduced into Grenada in late 17th and 18th centuries by slave traders who would frequently carry moneys or other exotic animals with them. The Grenada population was most likely started from only a few breeding individuals. In Grenada all male groups and bisexual groups occur, the all male groups have not been reported from Africa. Usually a troop consists of 3-30 individuals with a single male, multiple females and their offspring. Morphological studies suggest that the Grenada animals tend to average slightly smaller body sizes than their African counterparts. Adult males may reach 4.4 kg, while females are smaller at about 2.5 kg. Mona Monkeys are hunted in Grenada and occasionally kept as pets. |
