The vervet monkey (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) is a silvery-grey monkey with a black face, hands, feet and tail tip, and white eyebrow ridges. Males are about 1.1 m long and weigh around 6 kg, while females are smaller at about 4 kg. Vervets are social monkeys that specialise in forest-edge environments and can be encountered on safari in the Kruger National Park.
Name
Vervet Monkey [Chlorocebus pygerythrus]
Appearance
Males are 1.1m in length and weigh 6kg, with females being smaller, weighing only 4kg. They have a silvery-grey coat with white eyebrow ridges, with a black face, hands, feet and tail tip. The male’s genitals are often brightly coloured to show sexual status.
Diet
Vervet Monkeys are omnivores, feeding on fruit flowers, meat and insects, which mainly consist of their diet. Vervets can see colour and this helps them to distinguish between ripe and green fruit, cheeky little monkeys.
Breeding
Vervet monkeys are seasonal breeders that have a gestation period of about 165 days, where a single monkey is born.
Behaviour
Vervets are very social animals that travel and live in large organized troops that are dominated by males. Females never leave their troops when maturing but males leave after puberty in search of a new troop. Prime food resources are determined by the dominance hierarchy.
Habitat
Any area that has trees that are dense and tall, along with the availability of surface water allows vervets to appear in a variety of different environments, though they are specialists in forest edge environments. Vervets are fun to encounter during a Kruger Park Safari.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do vervet monkeys eat?
Vervet monkeys are omnivores that feed mainly on fruit, flowers, meat and insects. Being able to see colour helps them tell ripe fruit from green fruit.
Do vervet monkeys live in troops?
Yes — vervets are very social and live and travel in large, organised troops dominated by males. A dominance hierarchy within the troop determines access to prime food resources.
Do vervet monkeys leave their troop?
Only the males. Females never leave their troop as they mature, while males leave after puberty in search of a new troop.
Where do vervet monkeys live?
Vervets can live in a variety of environments wherever there are dense, tall trees and surface water, although they are specialists in forest-edge habitats. They can be encountered on safari in the Kruger National Park.
How do vervet monkeys breed?
Vervet monkeys are seasonal breeders that give birth to a single young. Males’ genitals are often brightly coloured to show their sexual status.
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