# Mona monkey (*Cercopithecus mona*) Mona monkeys are playful and curious animals that love to swing through the trees. They have beautiful fur and are known for their friendly nature. These monkeys live in groups and enjoy being around their friends! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Mona monkey](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/476079622/medium.jpeg) Photo: Thorsten Hackbarth, CC BY 4.0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/476079622) ## Appearance The Mona monkey has a dark greyish-brown back, a white belly, and dark limbs. Its face is distinctive with a dark blueish-grey face mask, a prominent white brow band, and a white spot on each side of its nose. It also has a long, dark tail with a white tip. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Primates - **Family:** Cercopithecidae - **Genus:** Cercopithecus ## Interesting facts - Baby Mona monkeys are born very dark and get their colorful adult fur later. - Mona monkeys have special cheek pouches to stuff food away for later snacks! - These monkeys are surprisingly good swimmers, diving into water to escape predators! - They sometimes join other monkey species for safety in super-sized mixed groups! ## Special abilities - **Vocal Communication:** Mona monkeys can chat with over a dozen distinct calls that help them warn friends of danger or find food. - **Acrobatic Leaping:** Mona monkeys can leap between trees with amazing agility because of their strong legs and excellent balance. - **Keen Eyesight:** Mona monkeys have excellent color vision that helps them spot ripe fruits and tiny insects in the forest. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 32-53 cm - **Weight:** 2-5 kg - **Lifespan:** 15-20 years - **Speed:** 25 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 150-180 days ## Diet & Feeding Mona monkeys are omnivores that enjoy a tasty mix of fruits, insects, and leaves! - **Primary Foods:** Fruits, Insects, Leaves, Seeds, Flowers - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Leopard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/leopard) (*Panthera pardus*) — Leopards are a primary predator in their forest home. - **Eaten by:** [Crowned Eagle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/crowned-eagle) (*Stephanoaetus coronatus*) — These powerful raptors hunt monkeys from the forest canopy. - **Eats:** Rough-leaved Fig (*Ficus exasperata*) — Mona monkeys consume its fruits, helping to disperse its seeds. - **Eaten by:** African Rock Python (*Python sebae*) — Large snakes prey on Mona monkeys on the ground. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Always watch from a distance and never try to touch wild monkeys. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Mona monkey? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Mona monkey? 32-53 cm ### How much does Mona monkey weigh? 2-5 kg ### How long does Mona monkey live? 15-20 years ### How fast can Mona monkey move? 25 km/h ### What does Mona monkey eat? Mona monkeys are omnivores that enjoy a tasty mix of fruits, insects, and leaves! ### Where is Mona monkey usually found? Forests ### How does Mona monkey hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [İzmir Doğal Yaşam Parkı](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/izmir-do-al-ya-am-park) — Izmir, TR · Zoo ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Mona monkey: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mona-monkey)