The Cercopithecinae are a

subfamily In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end subfamily botanical names with "-oideae", and zoologi ...

of the Old World monkeys, which comprises roughly 71 species, including the baboons, the

macaque The macaques () constitute a genus (''Macaca'') of gregarious Old World monkeys of the subfamily Cercopithecinae. The 23 species of macaques inhabit ranges throughout Asia, North Africa, and (in one instance) Gibraltar. Macaques are principally ...

s, and the vervet monkeys. Most cercopithecine monkeys are limited to

sub-Saharan Africa Sub-Saharan Africa is, geographically, the area and regions of the continent of Africa that lies south of the Sahara. These include West Africa, East Africa, Central Africa, and Southern Africa. Geopolitically, in addition to the List of sov ...

, although the macaques range from the far eastern parts of Asia through northern Africa, as well as on

Gibraltar ) , anthem = " God Save the King" , song = " Gibraltar Anthem" , image_map = Gibraltar location in Europe.svg , map_alt = Location of Gibraltar in Europe , map_caption = United Kingdom shown in pale green , mapsize = , image_map2 = Gib ...

Characteristics

The various species are adapted to the different terrains they inhabit. Arboreal species are slim, delicate, and have a long tail, while terrestrial species are stockier and their tails can be small or completely nonexistent. All species have well-developed thumbs. Some species have

ischial callosities A callosity is another name for callus, a piece of skin that has become thickened as a result of repeated contact and friction. Primates All Old World monkeys, gibbons, and some chimpanzees have pads on their rears known as ischial callosities. ...

on their rump, which can change their colour during their mating periods. These monkeys are diurnal and live together in social groups. They live in all types of terrain and climate, from rain forests, savannah, and bald rocky areas, to cool or even snowy mountains, such as the Japanese macaque. Most species are omnivorous, with diets ranging from fruits, leaves, seeds, buds, and mushrooms to insects, spiders, and smaller vertebrates. All species possess cheek pouches in which they can store food. Gestation lasts around six to seven months. Young are weaned after three to 12 months and are fully mature within three to five years. The life expectancy of some species can be as long as 50 years.

Classification

The Cercopithinae are often split into two tribes,

Cercopithecini Cercopithecini is a tribe of Old World monkey that includes several monkey species, including the vervet monkeys, talapoins, Allen's swamp monkeys and the guenons, all in Africa. Classification * Family Cercopithecidae ** Subfamily Cercopithe ...

and Papionini, as shown in the list of genera below. * Family

Cercopithecidae Old World monkey is the common English name for a family of primates known taxonomically as the Cercopithecidae (). Twenty-four genera and 138 species are recognized, making it the largest primate family. Old World monkey genera include baboons ...

** Subfamily Cercopithecinae *** Tribe

**** Genus ''

Allenopithecus The Allen's swamp monkey (''Allenopithecus nigroviridis'') is a species of Old World monkey and the only member of the genus ''Allenopithecus''. Phylogenetically, it is a sister clade to the guenons, but differs in dentition and habits. Allen' ...

'' - Allen's swamp monkey **** Genus ''

Miopithecus __NOTOC__ Talapoins () are the two species of Old World monkeys classified in genus ''Miopithecus''. They live in central Africa, with their range extending from Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Angola. With a typical length o ...

'' - talapoins **** Genus ''

Erythrocebus ''Erythrocebus'' is a genus of Old World monkey. All three species in this genus are found in Africa, and are known as patas monkeys. While previously considered a monotypic In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that cont ...

'' - patas monkeys **** Genus ''

Chlorocebus ''Chlorocebus'' is a genus of medium-sized primates from the family of Old World monkeys. Six species are currently recognized, although some people classify them all as a single species with numerous subspecies. Either way, they make up the enti ...

'' - vervet monkeys, etc. **** Genus '' Cercopithecus'' - guenons *** Tribe Papionini **** Genus '' Macaca'' - macaques **** Genus '' Lophocebus'' - crested mangabeys **** Genus '' Rungwecebus'' - highland mangabey **** Genus ''

Papio Baboons are primates comprising the genus ''Papio'', one of the 23 genera of Old World monkeys. There are six species of baboon: the hamadryas baboon, the Guinea baboon, the olive baboon, the yellow baboon, the Kinda baboon and the chacma ba ...

'' - baboons **** Genus ''

Theropithecus ''Theropithecus'' is a genus of primates in the family Cercopithecidae. It contains a single living species, the gelada (''Theropithecus gelada''), native to the Ethiopian Highlands The Ethiopian Highlands is a rugged mass of mountains in Et ...

'' - gelada **** Genus ''

Cercocebus The white-eyelid mangabeys are African Old World monkeys belonging to the genus ''Cercocebus''. They are characterized by their bare upper eyelids, which are lighter than their facial skin colouring, and the uniformly coloured hairs of the fur. T ...

'' - white-eyelid mangabeys **** Genus '' Mandrillus'' - drill and mandrill ** Subfamily Colobinae

References

External links

* {{Taxonbar, from=Q220848 Mammal subfamilies Old World monkeys Taxa named by John Edward Gray Taxa described in 1821

Characteristics

Classification

See also

References

External links