Roloway monkey

Both the Cercopithecus diana and the Cercopithecus roloway were originally categorized under the well-known species group: diana. This categorization meant that the two monkeys were related subspecies. This classification, related species from one another, changed in 2005, when each monkey was to be considered its own species, and treated as such. This differing classification is beneficial to each species in relation to conservation efforts and justifications for necessity of conservation. It can be challenging to find funding for extreme conservation efforts, and when the Cercopithecus diana and the Cercopithecus roloway were considered related subspecies, the urgency for conservation may not have been as great. Individuals can find themselves more willing to support conservation of a unique species rather than a subspecies. == Description ==

The Roloway monkey is a species of guenon monkeys. In fact, they are the largest of all of the 26 African Cercopithecus. Its face is a dark black, accentuated by the bright white fur covering its shoulders and chest. Roloway Monkeys have a relatively flat skull, and unlike many other primates, they do not have an elongated chin cavity, also referred to as a rostrum. In addition, the nostrils of the monkey are closely set and they angle downwards. Its chest, and throat are bright white, and the monkey has white line of fur that runs along each outer-thigh. On the inside of the thighs, the fur can range from being white, red, brown, or even yellowish. They have exceptionally long tails, longer than the entirety of their body. There are not many body measurements of adult Roloway monkeys, but through analysis and comparison with the Diana species, it is estimated that the Roloway Monkeys body length ranges from 40 cm to 55 cm, and the tails of the monkey range from 50 cm to 75 cm long. The Roloway monkey has a distinct cheek pouch, something that it shares with all cercopithecus monkeys. This patch allows the monkeys to store food such as fruits, nuts and seeds, which are the majority of their diet as they are omnivorous primates. Cercopithecinae monkeys all have opposable thumbs, which are quite well-developed; the Roloway Monkey also has fingernails on all of their fingers. Finally, the Roloway monkey has a long lifespan, similar to that of other primates, ranging from 20 to 30 years. == Distribution and habitat ==

The species occurs in a small area of eastern Ivory Coast and the forests of Ghana, between the Sassandra and Pra Rivers, and may possibly occur in Burkina Faso and Togo. The Roloway inhabit the canopy of old-growth forests, including gallery forests, in moist-low-lying regions, and avoids but can make use of forests that have been lightly logged. The Roloway monkey cannot live in areas where humans have had a large impact, therefore they only live in secluded, primary forests. Primary forests are ones that have not been majorly affected, and they are quite old and full of unique attributions that can allow for populations of animals and plants to be more stable in the long term. These forests are very lush, containing thick and moist shrubbery that allows for easy hiding. The habitats of the Roloway are very complex, and the terrain is not simple, meaning they have many places to hide and escape view. Small areas of these forests and habitats are used to inhabit the monkeys, and the group sizes of the species tend to be minuscule. The monkeys' instinct to flee combined with the areas they choose to live in, make it very hard to study them or gather any new information on the changes in their population size or behavior. == Ecology==

Diet The Roloway monkey is an omnivorous species, meaning they will feed on both plants and animals. This means the primates consume various fruits, flowers, leaves, and even insects. Because insects are included in their primary nutritional consumption, the Roloway can be described as insectivorous, along with being labeled an omnivore. The primates will search for large invertebrates and eat them for sustenance. In addition, the Roloway monkey will consume larvae and eggs of said invertebrates for added nutritional value. The diet of the Roloway monkey is one that has been observed for quite some time. It is presumed that the monkey will vary its diet in accordance to the season of the year. This means that the Roloway will eat more fruit, and pulp during the dry season of the year. During the wet season, when more insects are out and available for hunting, the Roloway will consume less fruit and seed, and will act more on its insectivorous urges. The variation in abundance of their food supply is the primary influences of such diet changes, and it is actually quite beneficial for the Roloway to sustain itself of varying food sources. Predation The Roloway monkey does not often employ its "fight" instinct, rather it chooses to flee from danger. Typical predators of the Roloway monkey include the leopard, large prey birds, chimpanzees, and other larger species. In order to survive against these predators, the Roloway will use communication techniques such as warning sounds, or even signals, in order to tell the other members of their group that a threat is near, and they must flee to safety. The predators do have an impact on the population of monkeys, but they are not the primary cause for the decline in overall population, and the reason for the critically endangered title the Roloway has been given. == Behaviour ==

Roloway monkeys typically are diurnally active only, and spend the night sleeping high in the canopy, similar to other primates and mammals. The species forms social groups of around 6-30 individuals, typically with a single male, around 10 females and their offspring. Males may change between groups, while females generally stay with the same group into which they were born. When there are reduced populations of the Roloway, the habits of staying in the same group can impose restrictions on the ability for the species to recuperate. Within their groups, there are levels of hierarchy, and distinct communication, both physical and verbal, is needed in order to maintain a peaceful structure, and to reduce tension and fighting. This is where grooming becomes so essential, as it allows for stronger bonds and sharing of information to occur. Reproduction Much of the information about reproduction for the Roloway monkey is based on knowledge of the closely related Diana monkey. While they are different species, their reproductive behavior is very similar. The Roloway monkey is polygynous, meaning that one male who acts as a leader in the group. Females go through an estrous cycle of 30 days, and this cycle can occur at any point in the year. This means that there is not one specific time for breeding, but the male can mate with a female whenever her estrous occurs. Female Roloways normally give birth to a single infant or, rarely, twins, after a gestation period of around six months. The female monkey is the primary caretaker, though siblings or non-related female monkeys may help to care for the newborn. The mother will suckle the infant for about six months, and then it will feed it a more adult-like diet, including fruit, nuts, and seeds. A Roloway monkey reaches maturity at about 3–4 years of age. A young male typically seeks out a new group that he can join or forms a new group in order to reproduce with unrelated females. The lifespan of a Roloway monkey is about 20 years in the wild, while individuals in captivity may live for more than 30 years. Captive Roloway monkeys typically go through hormonal changes that restrict their ability to effectively mate and reproduce, but if the conditions match that of their home habitats, they can reproduce as they would in the wild. == Conservation ==

Threats The Roloway monkey is a very threatened species, being labeled as an endangered species by the IUCN in 2008. As the population of the monkeys continued to rapidly decline, and the hunting and habitat loss continued, the species was moved up to critically endangered, meaning conservation is more needed than ever. The reason this loss in habitat is so profound is because the Roloway monkey is not good at adapting to new areas or habitats. It requires very specific characteristics in its environment, and as the monkey started to lose such environment, its population has fallen tremendously. The species is listed as one of "The World's 25 Most Endangered Primates". There are fewer and fewer sightings every year since the 1970s and, recently, many of the areas that the Roloway could be found have recently reported zero sightings. Recently, however, it has been found that there are so few Roloway left, that even hunters do not want to seek out the monkeys, as they might not make as much profit because of the time it would take to find one. == References ==