Idea #654 – Observing the world’s fastest monkey in The Gambia
The Patas monkey, Red Monkey or Red Monkey, is also called Weeping Monkey because it emits a sound that resembles that of a baby, a plaintive “heu”, in a constant tone. It measures between 50 and 70 cm and weighs from 7 to 13 kg. The fur of his back, shoulders, and top of his head, is red, hence his name “red monkey”. Its scientific name, Erythrocebus, also means “red monkey”, in Latin. The belly, limbs and feet however are white.
It is a close relative of the green monkeys, who, like him, are part of the family of cercopithecids. Patas is observable in Benin, and in West Africa, particularly in The Gambia and Senegal, in savannahs and open, almost desert environments. It is an omnivorous animal, which finds its food on the ground. The red monkey holds the record for the fastest primate on earth, it can run at a speed of 55 km/h on average with a peak at 80 km/h.
Some Pictures
Where is it ?
Bijilo National Park, Serrekunda, Gambia