One of Nigeria’s most striking, colorful, and little-known primates. Endemic to a small region of southeastern Nigeria, this forest monkey is found nowhere else in the world, making it an important symbol of national biodiversity. Its range is extremely limited, occurring mainly in fragmented lowland forests, community-protected sacred groves, and patches of secondary growth. Because of its tiny distribution and ongoing habitat loss, Sclater’s guenon is considered endangered, and much of what we know about it comes from small, scattered populations that persist in isolated forest refuges.

Visually, Sclater’s guenon is an extraordinarily beautiful primate with bold markings and rich coloration. Its face is particularly striking—dark and expressive, framed by white cheek patches that give it a masked appearance. A small, distinct white spot on the nose adds to its uniqueness. The body is a mixture of deep chestnut, black, gray, and warm brown tones, with a pale underside. Its long tail, often longer than the body, helps it maintain balance as it navigates vines, tangled branches, and dense canopy vegetation. The elegant, multi-colored pattern of its fur makes Sclater’s guenon one of the most visually distinctive monkeys in West Africa.

Sclater’s guenons are highly arboreal, spending almost all of their time in trees. They move through the canopy with swift, agile motions, rarely descending to the forest floor except when absolutely necessary. Their diet is typical of many guenons but varies based on available habitat: they eat a mixture of fruits, seeds, young leaves, flowers, and insects. In more disturbed forests, where fruit trees may be scarce, they adapt by feeding on cultivated crops or foraging through secondary vegetation. Their fruit-heavy diet makes them important seed dispersers, helping regenerate fragmented forests.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Nigeria

EN

2019