![]() C. aethiops -- *vzoo -- (at right) |
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How many species are there? Can you tell species and subspecies apart based on photographs? Are common names as distinctive as scientific names?
Chlorocebus -- Range map and taxonomic notes from amd reference below. Placed in Cercopithecus by many authors, Chlorocebus aethiops is referred here to a separate genus, in accordance with Wilson & Reeder. This species has often been involved in taxonomic debates, which have split it into as many as four species and 21 subspecies. It includes pygerythrus, sabaeus and tantalus, and also djiamdjiamensis (Djam-djam monkey) from the Ethiopian Bale Massif. The species and subspecies listed under Old World Monkeys is duplicated here and photographic examples are shown for comparison purposes. |
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Chlorocebus aethiops -- Grivet or Vervet Monkey-- [ *afcam | amd | *zoorg | *dutch | *vzoo | *momm ]
C a. djiamdjiamensis -- Djam-djam Monkey
Chlorocebus pygerythrus -- Vervet Monkey -- [ *djuma | *szg | *encm | *momm ]
C a. helvescens -- [ *cites ]
C a. rufoviridis -- [ *cites ] -- Black Vervet ? -- [ *sshow ]
C. p. cynosurus -- Angolan doubtful species
Chlorocebus sabaeus -- Green Monkey -- [ *mlab ]
Chlorocebus tantalus -- Savanna Vervet -- [ *momm ]
Photo Quality Can Make a Big Difference
It may be difficult to believe that the photographs grouped in the next two rows are of the same species. Not only does the camera equipment, light, film, skill of the photographer and photo development process all contribute to the end product, but electronic scanning equipment and art editors (enlarging or reducing size) all affect the picture you finally see. Also, photos are rarely labeled to indicate age, sex or geographic population to which the animal belongs. These comments are not meant to criticize any photo shown on this website. |
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C. pygerythrus - *djuma | C. pygerythrus -- *encm | C. pygerythrus -- *momm | C. pygerythrus -- *szg |
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C. aethiops -- *dutch | C. aethiops -- *afcam | C. aethiops -- *momm |
Webpages May Lack Signicant Information
Scientific or common names may be omitted. Is the "Black Vervet" from Northern Kenya shown here the same as C. a. rufoviridis, which lacks a common name. Based upon comments made on the webpage, the black vervets were a minority among a population of the "common East African race." Perhaps this is what is known as a "dark morph." Time to hit some reference books in search of an answer. |
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Kenyan Black Vervet - *sshow | C. a. helvescens -- *cites | C. a. rufoviridis -- *cites |
Sabaeus, Tantalus or Just Plain Aethiops?
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C. a. sabaeus -- *mlab | C. tantalus -- *momm and C. sabaeus -- *wpin1 |
![]() C. aethiops -- *vzoo -- (at right) |
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