It is instantly recognizable thanks to its dramatic black-and-white coat. Its body is covered in glossy black fur, but along its sides runs a flowing “mantle” of long, silky white hair that drapes like a cloak, giving the monkey its name. Add in its white beard and a long, bushy tail tipped with white, and the Mantled guereza looks like it’s dressed in a royal robe, making it one of the most elegant monkeys in the forest.

Unlike most primates that rely heavily on fruits, guerezas are adapted to eat mostly leaves. They have a complex, multi-chambered stomach—much like a cow’s—that allows them to ferment and digest tough, fibrous plant material. This ability lets them thrive in areas where fruit is scarce, giving them a special niche in their forest and woodland habitats. Their slow, careful feeding style and reliance on leaves set them apart from many of their more fruit-loving primate cousins.

The Mantled guereza is also known for its social and vocal lifestyle. They live in family groups, usually led by a dominant male, and their deep, booming calls can carry for kilometers across the forest. These calls are used to defend territory and keep in touch with group members. Their movements in the trees are equally impressive—they don’t swing like gibbons or leap like bushbabies, but instead gracefully bound from branch to branch, their long tails acting as perfect balancing tools. Watching them leap with their flowing mantles trailing behind is like seeing a piece of living art in motion.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Cameroon

2017

Central Af. Rep.

2017

Chad

2017

Congo-Brazzaville

2017

DR Congo (Kinshasa)

2017

Ethiopia

2017

Gabon

2017

Kenya

2017

Nigeria

2017

South Sudan

2017

Tanzania

2017

Uganda

2017