Southern Patas Monkey Erythrocebus baumstarki

Southern Patas Monkey Erythrocebus baumstarki

Critically Endangered

Extant (resident): Tanzania

Extinct: Kenya

Southern Patas Monkeys have a lanky and long-limbed appearance. Juveniles possess a reddish-brown crown which may become grey in adults. Their back and flanks are covered with shaggy reddish fur with their bellies are white or cream. There are sex differences and males are on average twice as large (4-7 kilos) as females. Southern Patas Monkeys are predominantly omnivores and feed on pods, seeds, gall, gum, flowers and young leaves acacia trees. Acacia gums are defended by ants, these monkeys will continue to eat the gum while being attacked by the ants until the ant bites become too painful to bear. Acacia gum is supplemented with grasses, berries, seeds and fruits. Most of the meat portion of their diet comes from ants and crickets, however they sometimes supplement this with eggs, lizards and small birds when these foods become available.

The leggy Southern Patas Monkey is critically endangered on @IUCNredlist in #Tanzania, extinct in #Kenya due to #agriculture and #bushmeat. They have no known conservation activities. You can help this species #Boycott4Wildlife 🧐💪👇

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The main threat to the Southern Patas Monkey is habitat degradation, fragmentation, and loss due primarily to agricultural expansion and intensification (both crops and livestock), charcoal production, fire, and ‘development’ activities (e.g., settlements, roads; De Jong et al. 2009, Loishooki et al. 2016), but also hunting and loss of access to water. In Grumeti Game Reserve, western Serengeti, Whistling Thorn Acacia woodlands are disappearing due to over-stocking by livestock (G. Tolchard pers. comm. 2019).

Bushmeat is a serious problem in the western Serengeti (K. Snyder pers. comm. 2020) and a threat to the Southern Patas Monkey. Their pelt is used in traditional ceremonies (including dances and witchcraft). Hunted in retaliation for crop raiding (Loishooki et al. 2016). Hunted by domestic dogs in Burko Masailand Hunting Concession (D. Hurt pers. comm. 2019) and, probably, other places.

The main threat to the Southern Patas Monkey is habitat degradation,fragmentation, and loss due primarily to agricultural expansion and intensification (both crops and livestock).

IUCN red list

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Further Information

de Jong, Y.A. & Butynski, T.M. 2020. Erythrocebus baumstarki. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T92252436A92252442. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T92252436A92252442.en. Downloaded on 12 March 2021.

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