A lively and visually striking monkey native to the forests of Central and East Africa. With its expressive face, long reddish tail, and curious behavior, the red-tailed monkey is one of Africa’s most engaging small primates. It’s part of the guenon group—a large genus of colorful, social monkeys known for their agility and rich vocalizations.

The most distinctive feature is, of course, its bright chestnut-red tail, which stands out against its otherwise dark, blackish-gray to olive fur. It also has a white nose and cheeks, a light-colored chest, and sometimes a golden or reddish patch on the back or thighs, making it quite eye-catching in the dappled forest light.

Red-tailed monkeys are arboreal and diurnal, meaning they live in trees and are active during the day. They are highly agile climbers, using their strong limbs and long tails for balance as they leap between branches. They inhabit a variety of forest types, including tropical rainforests, riverine forests, and even secondary or degraded woodlands, showing a remarkable ability to adapt to different environments.

Their diet is omnivorous, with a strong preference for fruit, which they supplement with leaves, seeds, flowers, insects, and occasionally small animals or bird eggs. They play an important ecological role as seed dispersers, helping to maintain the health and diversity of their forest habitats.

Socially, red-tailed monkeys live in multi-female groups led by one or more males, typically numbering from 10 to 30 individuals. They are highly vocal, using a variety of calls, including chirps, grunts, and barks to communicate alarm, maintain group cohesion, or interact with neighboring groups. Their expressive faces and active social lives make them fascinating to observe.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Angola

2018

Angola

Burundi

2018

Central Af. Rep.

2018

DR Congo (Kinshasa)

2018

Kenya

2018

Rwanda

2018

South Sudan

2018

Tanzania

2018

Uganda

2018

Zambia

2018