# patas monkey (*Erythrocebus patas*) The patas monkey is a fast and playful monkey that loves to run! They have long legs and a reddish-brown coat, making them look very special in the grasslands where they live. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Savannas - **Also known as:** Red Monkey, Wadley Monkey ![patas monkey](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Patas_Monkey_Jr.jpg&width=800) Photo: alex roberts from San Francisco, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Patas_Monkey_Jr.jpg) ## Appearance The patas monkey has a striking reddish-brown coat across its back, contrasting sharply with its white belly and limbs. Its face is marked with a distinctive black band across the brows, nose, and muzzle, framed by white whiskers and cheeks, making it look very alert. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Primates - **Family:** Cercopithecidae - **Genus:** Erythrocebus ## Interesting facts - Did you know they are sometimes called 'military monkeys' because they move in disciplined groups? - Patas monkeys often stand on their hind legs to get a better view over tall grasses! - Their long fingers are perfect for snatching up tiny insects and seeds from the ground! - They are very quiet during the hottest part of the day, resting hidden in trees or bushes. ## Special abilities - **Savanna Camouflage:** The patas monkey has a reddish-brown coat that helps them blend perfectly into the dry savanna grasses to avoid being seen. - **Alarm Caller:** Patas monkeys can make loud barks and whistles that help them warn their group about approaching dangers. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 60-90 cm - **Weight:** 4-13 kg - **Lifespan:** 15-20 years - **Speed:** 55 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 160-170 days ## Diet & Feeding These speedy omnivores forage for tasty fruits, seeds, insects, and sometimes even small animals. - **Primary Foods:** fruits, seeds, gum, insects, lizards, birds' eggs - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Lion (*Panthera leo*) — Lions are a primary predator of patas monkeys in their habitat. - **Eaten by:** [Leopard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/leopard) (*Panthera pardus*) — Leopards are opportunistic hunters that prey on patas monkeys. - **Eats:** Umbrella Thorn Acacia (*Acacia tortilis*) — Patas monkeys often feed on the gum and pods from acacia trees. - **Eats:** [Migratory Locust](https://www.snappit.app/explore/migratory-locust) (*Locusta migratoria*) — Patas monkeys supplement their diet by catching and eating various insects. ## 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. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Savanna](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/savanna): This habitat trait denotes species native to savannas, which are grasslands with scattered trees, typically found in tropical or subtropical regions with distinct wet and dry seasons. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. ## 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 animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify patas 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 patas monkey? 60-90 cm ### How much does patas monkey weigh? 4-13 kg ### How long does patas monkey live? 15-20 years ### How fast can patas monkey move? 55 km/h ### What does patas monkey eat? These speedy omnivores forage for tasty fruits, seeds, insects, and sometimes even small animals. ### Where is patas monkey usually found? Savannas ### How does patas monkey hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Rosamond Gifford Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rosamond-gifford-zoo) — New York, US · Zoo - [Topeka Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/topeka-zoo) — Kansas, US · Zoo - [Monkey World](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/monkey-world) — England, GB · Zoo [View all places to see patas monkey](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/patas-monkey) ## 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: [Patas Monkey: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/patas-monkey)