Blue Monkey

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The Blue Monkey (Cercopithecus mitis) is a wide spread primate species, found in a variety of forest habitats along Africa's East Coast, from Somalia to South Africa.

The wide range makes it more of a group of monkeys, divided into a large group of somewhat related subspecies.

Most of the subspecies are fruit eaters, preferring a diet of local fruit in season. Their diet is supplemented by local plant material.

The high number of subspecies, seventeen at last count, makes population estimates for any one subspecies problematic. The IUCN currently lists them as a species of least concern.

While the picture shows an individual with a blue hue to the fur, the species goes by many different names including, Diademed Monkey, Samango and Sykes' Monkey.

© 2010 Patricia A. Michaels.