red-capped mangabey

The red-capped mangabey is one of nine species of mangabeys, which are slender, long-limbed monkeys found in African tropical forests. These primates are characterized by their cheek pouches and deep under-cheekbone depressions. They typically have a tail as long as their head and body, and they communicate using a specialized vocal sac.1

Mangabeys are social animals that feed on seeds, fruit, and leaves. Their large front teeth allow them to eat tough-coated fruits that other monkeys cannot manage. The red-capped mangabey (Cercocebus torquatus) is the largest species, distinguished by its gray fur, a white collar, and a red crown. This species lives in west-central Africa. Several mangabey species, including the red-capped mangabey, are classified as endangered by the IUCN due to habitat loss and fragmentation.1