What kinds of monkeys live in Guinea Bissau?
If you visit Guinea Bissau, it’s only natural to ask yourself the above question. I mean, who doesn’t want to see monkeys!?
Luckily, there are quite a few species you should be able to find. So, keep reading to learn how to identify each monkey, ape, and primate, and learn some fun and interesting facts. Pictures and range maps are also included!
6 monkey species that live in Guinea Bissau:
- Pan troglodytes
Also known as Chimps.
- On average, adults are 150 cm (59 in) long.
- Their faces, hands, and feet are hairless, and they do not have tails.
- They have shaggy coats of black fur. Gray patches and bald spots may develop as they age.
Although related, Chimpanzees are technically apes, not monkeys.
Chimpanzees have remarkable intelligence and are humans’ closest animal relatives. You’ll see them using altered sticks when probing for insects and honey. They also use rocks and branches to bash open hard-shelled nuts. Occasionally, they even rub insects onto their wounds for medical relief.
This iconic species lives in communities of up to 150 members. Frequently, they split into smaller groups when foraging for food. They mostly eat fruits, though they sometimes prey on warthogs and small monkeys when they are craving meat. Male chimps act as guardians, fighting off males from rival groups to defend their territories.
Chimpanzees are fascinating creatures, but it’s best to observe them from afar. In addition to their sharp teeth and incredible strength, chimps can be wildly unpredictable and aggressive. Several attacks on humans have been recorded, some of which have resulted in death.
Check out this video of the “Top 5” chimpanzee moments caught on camera by BBC Earth.
#2. Patas Monkey
- Erythrocebus patas
Also known as the Wadi Monkey or Hussar Monkey.
- Adults are generally 61-89 cm (24-35 in) long and have 51-76 cm (20-30 in) tails.
- Males are much larger than females.
- White hair frames their dark faces. They have pale coats that grow reddish brown around their backs.
Patas Monkeys aren’t your average monkey in Guinea Bissauthat lives in trees!
Instead, they are ground-dwellers known for their impressive speed. Patas Monkeys are the fastest sprinters among primates, clocking in at 55 km/h (34 mph). They roam savannahs where trees are sparse and widely spaced.
Troops of Patas Monkeys can contain up to 60 members, with only one adult male leading the females and juveniles. At night, they sleep together in trees where predators can’t reach them. Sometimes, they must boldly fight off wildcats and jackals at watering holes!
Since they live in arid habitats, they spend a lot of time finding food and water. These monkeys like to feed on sap leaking out from Acacia tree trunks. Where their territories encroach with human settlements, they’ve acquired a taste for farm crops.
#3. Green Monkey
- Chlorocebus sabaeus
Also known as Sabaeus Monkey.
- Adults have a body length of 30-60 cm (12-24 in). Their gold-tipped tails are 41-76 cm (16-30 in) long.
- They have yellowish hair surrounding their dark faces.
- These monkeys have a tinge of green and gold on their grayish coats. Their undersides are white in contrast.
If you spot a Green Monkey in Guinea Bissau, chances are there are more nearby! A community can harbor up to 80 individuals, often staying near fresh water. They go swimming in rivers to cool down when it gets too hot. These monkeys can survive in habitats such as rainforest outskirts, dry woodlands, and coastal areas.
60% of their waking hours are spent traveling and searching for food. They prefer fruits, seeds, and leaves. As opportunistic predators, Green Monkeys also eat insects, small lizards, crabs, and lungfish. Populations overlapping with urban regions are notorious for stealing food from unwary tourists. Stay vigilant! 🙂
These primates are quite vulnerable, so they’ve developed distinct calls to warn troop mates of predators. For example, barks indicate a leopard sighting, while chirps alert others of a snake slithering around. Green Monkeys are quieter in areas where hunting is prevalent to hide from poachers.
#4. Campbell’s Monkey
- Cercopithecus campbelli
Also known as Campbell’s Mona Monkey.
- Adults are 36-55 cm (14-22 in). Their tails are generally 49-85 (19-33 in) cm long.
- They have a bright yellow patch on the forehead, and their coats are a blend of black, gray, and cream.
Campbell’s Monkeys in Guinea Bissau thrive in coastal savannas, lowland forests, and swamps overgrown with mangroves. Bands of 8-10 individuals spend most of their lives high up in trees. Females have close relationships with other females, while the male that protects the group is more distant.
Campbell’s Monkeys have a wide arsenal of vocalizations to alert each other of danger. Amazingly, they can string together particular sounds to form unique sentences. The male climbs the tallest trees at dusk and dawn to issue a booming call. It’s hard to miss, even from a distance!
Campbell’s Monkeys primarily feed on fruits and insects, though they also supplement their diets with leaves. Sometimes, you’ll find them meticulously looking for bugs inside curled leaves.
#5. King Colobus
- Colobus polykomos
Also known as the Western Black-and-white Colobus.
- Adults are 45-72 cm (18-28 in) long, while their white tails are 52-100 cm (20-39 in).
- Tufts of silver-white hair frame their bare faces, extending down to their chests and shoulders.
- They have jet-black coats of hair.
Unlike most other monkeys in Guinea Bissau, these primates live on the forest floor.
King Colobuses thrive in lowland and mountainous rainforests. Their diets include fruits and flowers, but their favorite food is leaves. Interestingly, some of the leaves they eat are toxic, so they occasionally eat charcoal to detoxify their stomach walls.
A group of King Colobuses contains 1-3 adult males, 3-4 adult females, and their offspring. If you watch them closely, you’ll notice that females share closer relationships with the same sex, while males keep to themselves. They are highly territorial, and rival bands often clash where their homes overlap.
When a group of King Colobuses succeeds in defending its territory, females from the opposing group may switch sides. Naturally, they look for the strongest partners that can offer protection. Unfortunately, this means any of their infants from previous partners will be killed by the males from the new group.
#6. Western Red Colobus
- Piliocolobus badius
Also known as the Rust Red Colobus.
- Adults are 45-67 cm (18-26 in) long. Their tails are 52-80 cm (20-31 in) in length.
- Look for their black brows and reddish beards.
- Their coats are split between reddish brown colors at the front and smokey gray on the back.
These red daredevils navigate through all canopy levels, swinging from branch to branch with outstanding agility. They thrive in dense rainforests far away from civilization. Often, you’ll find Western Red Colobuses near rivers or streams. Groups are made up of 20-90 members and are noticeably noisy.
Curiously, Western Red Colobuses ignore ripe fruits prized by other monkeys. Instead, they seem to have no problem eating unripe fruits! This is because their multi-chambered stomachs are better suited for digesting fibers instead of sugars. Hence, they prefer foraging for unripe fruit, young shoots, and leaves.
These are some of the most aggressively territorial monkeys in Guinea Bissau.
Upon sighting a leopard, a troop member will bellow a long call to rally several males. Together, they’ll try to chase the leopard away from their homes. Chimpanzees are one of the only animals this monkey won’t challenge. Instead, they let out a short, abrupt call, urging the others to climb higher up the canopy to evade them.
For more information about animals in Guinea Bissau, check out these guides:
- 2 COMMON Types of Snakes Found in Guinea Bissau
- 12 Amazing ANIMALS to see in Guinea Bissau! (ID guide w/ pics)
Which of these monkeys in Guinea Bissau is your favorite?
Leave a COMMENT below!
Ni aina gani za nyani wanaoishi Guinea-Bissau? Ukiwatembelea Guinea Bissau, ni jambo la kawaida kujiuliza swali lililotajwa hapo juu. Namaanisha, ni nani asiyetaka kuona nyani!? Kwa bahati nzuri, kuna aina kadhaa ambazo unapaswa kuweza kupata. Kwa hiyo, endelea kusoma ili kujifunza jinsi ya kutambua kila nyani, nyani, na mnyama-mwitu, na kujifunza mambo fulani yenye kufurahisha na yenye kupendeza. Picha na ramani za maeneo ya milima pia zimeingizwa! Kuna aina sita za nyani wanaoishi nchini Guinea Bissau: Pan troglodytes, na Chimpanzees. Kwa wastani, watu wazima wana urefu wa sentimita 150. - Nyuso zao, mikono, na miguu hazina nywele, na hazina mikia. - Wana makoti yenye manyoya meusi. Huenda wakawa na madoa ya kijivu na manyoya ya ngozi yanayosonga kadiri wanavyokua. Ingawa ni jamaa, kwa kweli chimpanzi ni nyani, si nyani. Chimpanzi wana akili ya ajabu na ni jamaa wa karibu zaidi wa wanyama wa wanadamu. Utawaona wakitumia vijiti vilivyobadilishwa wanapotafuta wadudu na asali. Pia hutumia miamba na matawi kuvunja karanga zenye ganda gumu. Nyakati nyingine, hata huvuta wadudu kwenye majeraha yao ili kupata msaada wa kitiba. Aina hii ya kipekee ya wanyama huishi katika jamii za watu 150 au zaidi. Mara nyingi, wao hugawanyika katika vikundi vidogo-vidogo wanapotafuta chakula. Wao hula matunda hasa, ingawa nyakati nyingine wao hula warthogs na nyani wadogo wanapotaka nyama. Nyani wa kiume hutenda kama walinzi, wakipigana na wanaume kutoka vikundi vinavyoshindana ili kulinda maeneo yao. Chimpanzi ni viumbe wenye kuvutia, lakini ni afadhali kuwachunguza kutoka mbali. Mbali na meno yao makali na nguvu zao zisizo za kawaida, nyani hao wanaweza kuwa wasiotabiriwa na wenye jeuri sana. Mashambulizi kadhaa dhidi ya wanadamu yameandikwa, na baadhi ya hayo yamesababisha kifo. "Kama unavyoona kwenye video, ""Top 5 Chimpanzee Moments"" ni picha ya video iliyopigwa na BBC Earth." #2. Panya wa Patas - Erythrocebus patas Pia anajulikana kama Panya wa Wadi au Panya wa Hussar. Kwa kawaida, watu wazima wana urefu wa sentimita 61-89 na mkia wa sentimita 51-76. - Wanaume ni wakubwa zaidi kuliko wanawake. - Nywele nyeupe hufunika nyuso zao nyeusi. Wana manyoya meupe ambayo hukua kuwa kahawia-nyekundu kwenye mgongo wao. Patas Monkeys si nyani wako wa kawaida katika Guinea Bissauthat anaishi katika miti! Badala yake, wao ni wanyama wanaoishi ardhini wanaojulikana kwa sababu ya mwendo wao wa haraka sana. Panya wa Patas ni mbio za kasi zaidi kati ya primates, wakishika kasi ya 55 km h (34 mph). Wao hutembea-tembea katika misitu ambako miti ni michache na imepangwa kwa mbali. Kikundi cha nyani wa Patas kinaweza kuwa na watu 60 na ni mwanaume mmoja tu anayeongoza wanawake na watoto. Wakati wa usiku, wao hulala pamoja kwenye miti ambapo wanyama-watu wa kuwinda hawawezi kuwafikia. Nyakati nyingine, ni lazima wapigane kwa ujasiri dhidi ya paka-mwitu na mbweha kwenye mashimo ya maji! Kwa kuwa wanaishi katika maeneo yenye ukame, hutumia wakati mwingi kutafuta chakula na maji. Nyani hao hupenda kula maji yanayotiririka kutoka kwenye shina la mti wa Acacia. Mahali ambapo maeneo yao yanapozungukwa na makazi ya kibinadamu, wamepata upendezi wa mazao ya kilimo. # 3 - Uwe na uhakika. Nyani wa kijani - Chlorocebus sabaeus Pia inajulikana kama Nyani wa Sabaeus. - Watu wazima wana urefu wa mwili wa 30-60 cm (12 in). Mng'ombe wake wenye ncha ya dhahabu una urefu wa sentimita 41 hadi 76. - Wana nywele za manjano zinazozunguka nyuso zao nyeusi. - Nyani hao wana rangi ya kijani-kibichi na dhahabu kwenye manyoya yao ya kijivu. Sehemu zao za chini ni nyeupe kwa kutofautisha. Ukiwa umeona Nyani Kijani huko Guinea-Bissau, yaelekea kuna nyani wengine karibu! Jamii moja inaweza kuwa na watu 80 hivi, na mara nyingi wao hukaa karibu na maji safi. Wao huogelea katika mito ili kupumzika inapokuwa moto sana. Nyani hao wanaweza kuishi katika maeneo kama vile maeneo ya nje ya misitu ya mvua, misitu iliyo kavu, na maeneo ya pwani. Zaidi ya asilimia 60 ya muda wao wa kuamka hutumiwa kusafiri na kutafuta chakula. Wao hupendelea matunda, mbegu, na majani. Wakiwa wawindaji wenye fursa, nyani wa kijani-kibichi hula pia wadudu, mbawakawa wadogo, kaa, na samaki wanaoitwa lungfish. Watu wanaoishi katika maeneo ya mijini wanajulikana sana kwa kuiba chakula kutoka kwa watalii wasio na tahadhari. Endeleeni kuwa macho! Primati hizi ni dhaifu sana, kwa hiyo zimebuni sauti tofauti za kuonya wenzake wa kikosi juu ya wawindaji. Kwa mfano, kunguruma huonyesha kwamba chui ameonekana, huku kunguruma kukiwaonya wengine kwamba nyoka anatembea-tembea. Nyani wa kijani-kibichi ni watulivu zaidi katika maeneo ambako uwindaji ni wa kawaida ili kujificha kutoka kwa wawindaji haramu. # 4 - Mfano wa Nyani wa Campbell - Cercopithecus campbelli Pia inajulikana kama Nyani wa Campbell Mona. - Watu wazima ni 36-55 cm (14-22 in). Kwa kawaida mkia wao huwa na urefu wa sentimita 49-85 (19-33 in). - Wana doa la manjano-nyeupe kwenye paji la uso, na manyoya yao ni mchanganyiko wa nyeusi, kijivu, na krimu. Nyani wa Campbell huko Guinea-Bissau huishi katika misitu ya pwani, misitu ya chini, na mabwawa yaliyofunikwa na misitu ya mangrove. Makundi ya watu wanane au wanane hutumia muda mwingi wa maisha yao juu ya miti. Wanawake wana uhusiano wa karibu na wanawake wengine, ilhali mwanamume anayelinda kikundi hicho ni wa mbali zaidi. Nyani wa Campbell wana sauti nyingi za kuonyeshana hatari. Kwa kushangaza, wanaweza kuunganisha sauti hususa ili kutokeza sentensi za kipekee. Ndege wa kiume hupanda miti mirefu zaidi wakati wa mapambazuko na mapambazuko ili kutoa sauti kubwa. Ni vigumu kukosa, hata kutoka mbali! Nyani wa Campbell hula hasa matunda na wadudu, ingawa pia huongeza chakula chao kwa majani. Nyakati nyingine, utawakuta wakitafuta kwa uangalifu wadudu ndani ya majani yaliyojipinda-pinda. # 5 - Mfano wa Uaminifu King Colobus - Colobus polykomos Pia inajulikana kama Western Black-na-nyeupe Colobus. - Watu wazima ni 45-72 cm (18-28 in) kwa urefu, wakati mikia yao nyeupe ni 52-100 cm (20-39 in). - nywele zao nyeupe-za fedha hufunika nyuso zao tupu, zikielekea chini hadi kifuani na mabega yao. - Wana manyoya meusi kama maji. Tofauti na nyani wengine wengi huko Guinea-Bissau, nyani hao huishi chini ya msitu. Mnyama huyo huishi katika misitu ya mvua ya nyanda za chini na milimani. Wao hula matunda na maua, lakini chakula wanachopenda zaidi ni majani. Kwa sababu majani ya mimea hiyo ni yenye sumu, mara kwa mara wao hula makaa ya mawe ili kuondoa sumu kwenye tumbo lao. Kwa mfano, king colobus ina wanaume wazima 1 hadi 3, wanawake wazima 3 hadi 4 na watoto wao. Ukizitazama kwa makini, utaona kwamba wanawake wanashiriki mahusiano ya karibu zaidi na watu wa jinsia moja, huku wanaume wakijitenga. Wao ni wenye mamlaka sana, na mara nyingi vikundi vinavyopingana hupigana mahali ambapo nyumba zao zinapatana. Kikundi cha King Colobuses kinapofanikiwa kutetea eneo lake, wanawake wa kikundi kinachopingana wanaweza kubadili upande. Kwa kawaida, wao hutafuta washirika wenye nguvu zaidi ambao wanaweza kutoa ulinzi. Kwa bahati mbaya, hii inamaanisha kwamba watoto wao kutoka kwa wenzi wa zamani watauawa na wanaume kutoka kwa kikundi kipya. #6. - Western Red Colobus - Piliocolobus badius Pia inajulikana kama Rust Red Colobus. - Watu wazima wana urefu wa sentimita 45-67 (18-26 in). Mkia wao ni urefu wa sentimita 52-80 (20-31 in). - Angalia vipaji vyao vya uso vyeusi na ndevu nyekundu. - Manyoya yao yamegawanyika kati ya rangi ya kahawia nyekundu mbele na rangi ya kijivu yenye moshi nyuma. Wanyama hao wenye ujasiri hupita katika ngazi zote za mti huo, wakipiga-piga kutoka tawi moja hadi jingine kwa ustadi mkubwa sana. Wao huishi katika misitu mikubwa ya mvua iliyo mbali na ustaarabu. Mara nyingi, utapata Colobus Nyekundu ya Magharibi karibu na mito au vijito. Makundi hayo yana washiriki 20 hadi 90 na yana kelele nyingi. Kwa kushangaza, Colobus Nyekundu wa Magharibi hupuuza matunda yaliyokomaa ambayo nyani wengine huthamini sana. Badala yake, yaonekana hawana tatizo la kula matunda yasiyoiva! Hii ni kwa sababu tumbo lao lenye vyumba vingi linafaa zaidi kumeng'enya nyuzi badala ya sukari. Kwa hiyo, wao hupendelea kutafuta matunda yasiyoiva, shina vijana, na majani. Hizi ni baadhi ya nyani wenye jeuri zaidi katika Guinea Bissau. Anapomwona chui, mshiriki wa kundi hilo hutamka sauti ndefu ili kuwakusanya wanaume kadhaa. Pamoja, watajaribu kumfukuza chui huyo mbali na nyumba zao. Chimpanzees ni mojawapo ya wanyama wachache ambao nyani huyu hatapinga. Badala yake, walipiga kelele fupi, kwa ghafula, wakiwahimiza wengine wapande juu zaidi ili waepuke. Kwa habari zaidi kuhusu wanyama wa Guinea Bissau, angalia miongozo hii: - Aina 2 za Kawaida za Nyoka Zilizopatikana nchini Guinea Bissau - Wanyama 12 wa kushangaza wa kuona nchini Guinea Bissau! Ni ipi kati ya nyani hawa wa Guinea Bissau unayopenda zaidi? Acha maoni hapa chini!