Allenopithecus nigroviridis

Allenopithecus nigroviridis | Allen's Swamp Monkey

Good spot: Salonga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo

Primatology

Taxonomy & Occurrence

Allenopithecus nigroviridis is a monotypic species (no subspecies). It is found in Cameroon, Congo, and the Democratic Republic of Congo

IUCN Conservation Status

Least Concern

Little is know about this species except that it inhabits swamp forest and riverine habitat [1]. It forages on the ground and has been reported to raid crops. Allen's Swamp Monkey is known for its ability to escape from predators by plunging into

water and swimming away [2]. Groups consist of up to 40 individuals [3].

Seeing this Species

Salonga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo

Salonga National Park is the world's second largest tropical rainforest national park, and largest in Africa. Situated at the heart of the central basin of the Congo river, this enormous 3,600,000 ha park is very isolated and accessible only by water [4]. Declared a World Heritage Site in 1984, it is the habitat of many endemic endangered species, notably the Bonobo, Congo peacock, forest elephant and African slender-snouted crocodile.

Probability of success: There is apparently high densities of Allen's Swamp Monkey here [3].

Overlapping species: Golden-bellied Mangabey, Northern Black Crested Mangabey, Red-tailed Monkey, Wolf's Guenon, De Brazza's Monkey, Tshuapa Red Colobus, Angolan Black-&-white Colobus, Bonobo

Other sites:

Lake Tumba National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo

About 60% of the Lake Tumba landscape is inundated and seasonally flooded forest [see 5].

Overlapping species: Northern Black Crested Mangabey, Red-tailed Monkey, De Brazza's Monkey, Angolan Black-&-white Colobus, Tshuapa Red Colobus, Bonobo, Common Chimpanzee

Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, Congo

Allen’s Swamp Monkeys are found on two islands in the Sangha River near the village of Bomassa, the headquarters of the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park [6]. These islands are small—about 0.5 km² and 0.08 km². Both islands are near to the banks of the Sangha River: 120 m from the west bank and 70 m from the east bank respectively. A guide to Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park is provided by Wildlife Conservation Society Congo.

Overlapping species: Agile Mangabey, Gray-cheeked Mangabey, Moustached monkey, De Brazza's Monkey, Greater Spot-nosed Monkey, Crowned Monkey, Oustalet's Red Colobus, Mantled Guereza, Lowland Gorilla, Common Chimpanzee

Local contacts:

References

[1] Kingdon J., 1997. The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals. Academic Press Natural World, San Diego, California, USA.

[2] Rowe N., 1996. The Pictorial Guide to the Living Primates. Pogonias Press, East Hampton, New York.

[3] Oates J.F. & Groves C.P., 2008. Allenopithecus nigroviridis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3. Downloaded on 24 November 2014.

[4] Salonga National Park. UNESCO World Heritage Convention.

[5] Inogwabini B.-I., Matungila B., Mbende L., Abokome M. & Tshimanga wa Tshimanga, 2007. Great apes in the Lake Tumba landscape, Democratic Republic of Congo: newly described populations. Oryx 41: 532-538.

[6] Maisels F., Blake S., Fay M., Mobolambi G. and Yako V., 2006. A note on the distribution of Allen’s swamp monkey,

Allenopithecus nigroviridis, in Northwestern Congo. Primate Conservation 21: 93-95.

Page Last Updated: 17 February 2019