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Green monkey, or Sabaeus monkey, or Callithrix monkey(Chlorocebus sabaeus,orCercopithecus sabaeus)
Phylum —chordata
Class — mammalia
Order — primates
Family — cercopithecidae
Genus –chlorocebus
Appearance
The Green monkey is a sexually dimorphic species, with males typically being slightly larger than females.
Wild adult males weigh between 3.9 and 8.0 kg (8.6 and 17.6 lb) and measure between 420 and 600 mm (1.38 and 1.97 ft), while the females usually weigh between 3.4 and 5.3 kg (7.5 and 11.7 lb) and measure between 300 and 495 mm (0.984 and 1.624 ft).
Habitat
The natural range of this species in restricted to West Africa, stretching from Senegal to the Volta River. Introduced populations of Green monkeys occur on the Cape Verde islands off north-western Africa as well as West Indian islands of Saint Kitts, Nevis, Saint Martin, and Barbados.
Behavior
The Green monkeys are very social animals, living in groups of 20 - 50 animals. As in most Old World monkeys, these groups have stable and temporary members. The core of each group is made up of multiple families, which in turn consist of closely related mature females with their young. When reaching maturity, young males leave to join another group, whereas females continue living with their natal group. When trying to join a new group, these young males often face aggression from its members. Hence, they prefer associating with peers or their maternal brothers. Males often move between groups several times throughout their lives. Although territorial species, the Green monkeys don't tend engage in serious confrontations.
These primates are diurnal creatures. Activity peaks occur in the early morning and late afternoon. The Green monkeys are generally terrestrial, but may occasionally sleep in trees. Additionally, they are known to find refuge in trees when threatened.
Diet
As omnivorous animals, the Green monkeys feed upon food of both plant and animal origin. They generally consume fruits, flowers, seeds, seedpods, leaves, grasses and roots, supplementing this diet with insects, small reptiles as well as birds and their eggs. These primates are also known to favor invertebrates and particularly, crabs.
Reproduction
The Green monkeys have a polygynous mating system, which is controlled by the dominant male of the group. This alpha male controls all interactions between mating individuals. Pairs are usually formed only with his permission. The breeding season lasts from April to June. A single infant is born after a gestation period of around 163 - 165 days. The infant gradually gains independence as it ages. Usually, the mother will carry the baby only if the latter is threatened or when the group travels. And finally, at one year old, the young monkey is completely weaned and independent. The age of reproductive maturity is 5 years old in males and 2 years old in females.
The life expectancy of the Green monkeys is 11–13 years in captivity, and about 10–12 years in the wild.
In captivity
Green monkeys are very smart and sociable creatures, they have a lot in common with humans, but in no case should such a pet be allowed to walk around the house or apartment without human supervision. He is interested in everything, wants to touch everything and even see what is inside, so he breaks everything that comes to hand.
First of all, it is necessary to provide a fairly spacious and strong cage for the monkey, which is recommended to be made of strong wood, the front wall is usually made of metal rods. Connections bolts or screws are not allowed.
Suitable cell size 2x1, 5x1, 5 m. Monkeys usually lead a very active lifestyle, so the cage should have different devices for climbing. Most often, a trapeze is installed for monkeys, which is a wooden shelf attached with strong ropes or chains. You can install a pole with a movable wheel or hang a large ring made of metal or ebony from the ceiling. The best entertainment for your pet will be a mirror that is well nailed or glued, the frame for it must be made of solid wood. The mirror must be fixed motionless, otherwise a curious monkey can break it, and then swallow the fragments.
A monkey is not a very clean animal. Therefore, the bottom of the cage should be covered with a layer of dry sawdust, preferably spruce. For feeding monkeys, feeders are usually used, water is given in drinkers. These devices should not be kept in the cage all the time.
For keeping monkeys, in addition to cages, sometimes use aviaries or keep them in poles. This device is a pole where there is a horizontal platform used for walking and feeding the animal, as well as a place to sleep. This is probably the most cruel keeping of an animal, because in this case the monkey must always be on a leash. We recommend not to torment your pet, but still provide it with a good home. For example, aviaries are much more suitable for keeping monkeys. They are much more spacious than cells and they can have conditions that are closest to nature. To do this, the keeper should have the aviary with tree branches or plant various types of vegetation.
Periodically, your pet should be walked. To do this, they need to wear a belt with a leash. It can be made from a soft but strong leather belt that will wrap around the animal's body slightly below the shoulders. It is necessary to train the monkey to this belt since the very childhood and not to remove it even in the apartment.
Feed the monkeys twice a day, sometimes you can give them various fruits as rewards, but do not overuse this. Monkeys, like all primates, eat mainly plant food, preferring plant shoots, fruits, flowers and nuts. In addition to plant food, you can add small insects, worms, sometimes even shellfish and crabs. It is recommended to give them boiled rice with milk and a white bun soaked in milk, and you should also add fruit; some favor boiled potatoes and vegetables in general (tomatoes, carrots, cabbage, beets, boiled corn). For almost all monkeys, watermelon is a treat. Very quickly, monkeys get used to various exotic fruits, and if you give them often, they completely refuse other food, so bananas and oranges are recommended to be given quite rarely. Onions (contain vitamin C) are very useful for monkeys, but since it is very corrosive to the eyes, they make interesting grimaces before using it. Sometimes they should be given cereal and legume seeds.
The amount of feed is important. Monkeys are very fond of eating, often overeating. If the stomach is already full, they will fill the cheek bags, and if there is anything left, they will hide it in the most unpredictable places, and if there is no place to keep food it can be scattered in a cage or in an apartment.
