Wolf's guenon

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Guenons (pronounced “GWEN nons”) as a whole can be characterized as having colorful fur, face masks (which emphasize their mouths or eyes), and rump pads.
Wolf guenons are characteristically grey in color with a reddish saddle marking across the back. Their undersides are typically white, arms are black, and legs are brownish red. Their faces have a back mask with a lighter brow and the ears are usually tipped in golden.
They typically reach lengths up to 50 inches (20 inches of body, 30 inches of tail). Average weights range from six to nine pounds.
Guenons, including the Wolf, have cheek pouches for storing food. The cheek pouches typically hold as much food as the stomach.
Guenons are diurnal and are most active early in the day and again in the late afternoon.

Wild - Fruit, insects, nuts, leaves, grains, roots, nectar, bird eggs, and snails
Zoo - Vegetables, fruit, monkey chow, insects

Gestation period is about 170 days with a single baby born at a time. Twinning does occur, however they are less common than singletons.
Guenon babies are generally born a lighter color than their mothers. Their darker, adult coats will not come in until they are four to six months old.

Major threats: bushmeat and habitat destruction
Wolf guenons are affected by the habitat destruction in the areas that they live in due to deforestation and development. Almost all species of guenons suffer from habitat destruction, some more heavily than others. Bushmeat is a serious problem for wolf’s guenons and are causing wild populations to decrease rapidly.

The word “guenon” means fright in French and refers to the excited or angry reactions that these monkeys have which include exposed teeth and grimacing. The name “wolf” was derived from the last name of the person who discovered the species. It has nothing to do with any similarities, or supposed similarities to wolves.
Wolf’s guenons are now considered their own species which includes three recognized subspecies that are differentiated geographically.
They occasionally feed on the nectar of certain plants, which makes them an important role in the pollination process for species of rain forest plants and trees.
Monkeys found in this genus, Cercopithecus, are considered Old World Monkeys. All guenons are native to the continent of Africa. Guenons are the largest group of African Primates.

African Mammals Database. (Unknown). Cercopithecus wolfi. Retrieved March 9, 2007, from the African Mammals Database Web site: http://www.gisbau.uniroma1.it/amd/amd309b.html
Butynski, T. & Members of the Primate Specialist Group. (2000). Cercopithecus pogonias ssp. wolfi. Retrieved March 9, 2007, from the 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Web site: http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/40646/summ
Bronx Zoo Congo Gorilla Forest. (Unknown). Wolf’s Monkey. Retrieved March 9, 2007, from the Bronx Zoo Congo Gorilla Forest Web site: http://www.congogorillaforest.com/congo-meet-wolfsmonkey
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. (Unknown). Wolf’s guenon. Retrieved March 9, 2007, from the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Web site: http://www.clemetzoo.com/animal_plant/info/index.asp?action=details&animals_id=1171
Nowak, R. M. (Ed.). (1983). Walker’s Mammals of the World: Ed. 2, Vol. 1 (pp. 408-411). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.
San Diego Zoo. (2007). Mammals: Guenons. Retrieved March 9, 2007, from the San Diego Zoo Web site: http://www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/t-guenon.html

Updated March 2007