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Primates
Id code: amd048Cercopithecidae
Cercopithecus cephus
(Linnaeus, 1758)
(Eng) Moustached guenon
(Fre) Moustac
Taxonomic notes
According to Wilson & Reeder (1993) it does not include either erythrotis or sclateri which are considered distinct species, but the classification of these forms is still unclear. According to Kingdon (1997) and Lernould (1988) two subspecies can be recognised: C. c. cephus (red-tail moustached g.) from the Sanaga River to the Zaire and Ubangi Rivers, C. c. cephodes (bicoloured grey tail moustached g.) between the Ogooué and Kouilou Rivers in southwest Gabon and Congo.
IUCN threat category
Not listed.
Available information
Most of the literature available concerns the species’ ecology in Gabon. Feeding habits, behaviour, and coexistence with other primates are discussed in several papers (Gautier-Hion, 1988; Gautier-Hion & Gautier, 1986; Gautier-Hion et al., 1980; 1983). Habitat use and interspecific relations with other primates were recently investigated in the Lopé Reserve (Gabon) by Ham (1995). Notes on the species’ habitat are also reported in Bourlière (1985). Some information on the coexistence and niche separation among sympatric primates is found in Mitani (1991), who researched the species in southwestern Cameroon. Data on the species’ distribution are reported by several authors (Feiler, 1990; Lernould, 1988; Mitani, 1990; Oates, 1988); most of the authors mentioned above also give some information on the habitat in which the species is mainly found. Status and distribution in Gabon are discussed in Blom et al. (1992). General information on the species ecology and distribution is found in Kingdon (1997) and Stuart & Stuart (1997).
Known extent of occurrence
C. cephus ranges over Gabon, Congo Rep., south Cameroon, Eq. Guinea, southwest C.A.R., northwest Angola (Wilson & Reeder, 1993); it is separated to the North from C. erythrotis by the lower course of the Sanaga River (Lernould, 1988). Its south-eastern limit is the Zaire/Ubangi River system as shown in Fig. 2.3.7.a, which was acquired from Lernould (1988), revised using Kingdon (1997) and updated to match the river network. The lower course of the Zaire River is no longer a barrier for this species, which can be found in northern Angola (Lernould, 1988).
Categorical-discrete (CD) distribution model
C. cephus prefers primary and secondary forest, but it also enters the savannas areas via gallery forests (Lernould, 1988; Bourlière, 1985; Gautier-Hion et al., 1983).
Based on these environmental preferences, the following scores were assigned (Fig. 2.3.7.b) (Tab. 2.3.7.a):
|
Score |
|
|
1 |
Forests. |
|
2 |
Forest mosaics. |
|
3(*) |
Savannas and croplands. |
|
(*) Scores increased for vegetation types occurring inside a 1-km buffer around permanent water, only within forest and forest mosaic zones |
|
|
suitable |
moderately suitable |
unsuitable |
Total |
||||
|
km2 |
% |
km2 |
% |
km2 |
% |
km2 |
% |
|
622 134 |
70 |
178 042 |
20 |
85 396 |
10 |
885 572 |
100 |
Tab 2.3.7.a: Cumulative size (km2) of areas pertaining to each environmental suitability class within the Extent of Occurrence.
|
Number Patches (NP) |
Mean Patch Size (MPS) km2 |
Patch Size SD (PSSD) km2 |
Largest Patch Index (LPI) % |
Mean Shape Index (MSI) |
Area-Weighted Mean Shape Index (AWMSI) |
|
|
suitable |
268 |
2 309 |
36 450 |
74.74 |
1.26 |
19.13 |
|
moderately suitable |
916 |
198 |
1 995 |
6.27 |
1.27 |
6.75 |
|
Total AO |
28 |
28 569 |
148 274 |
99.89 |
1.49 |
13.9 |
Tab 2.3.7.b: Area of Occupancy fragmentation indexes.
Probabilistic-continuous (PC) distribution model
The output of the probabilistic-continuous (PC) distribution model is shown in Fig. 2.3.7.c.
Validation
|
% of EO in sample areas |
Number of valid plots |
Index of Accordance (%) |
|
20.15 |
47 |
91.49 |
Tab 2.3.7.c: Categorical-discrete (CD) distribution model validation parameters.
Comments and conservation issues
The known EO is relatively large and mostly suitable. The Index of Accordance (91.49%) for this species is among the highest of the entire data bank. Both models indicate areas of lower suitability in southern Gabon and central-southern Congo. The overall fragmentation is limited (LPI = 99.89%) but a high level of interspersion with unsuitable areas is shown by the high AWMSI. About 5% of the total AO is included in existing protected areas, but the species is not currently considered threatened.
|
SUITABILITY CLASS |
inside |
outside |
Total |
|
suitable |
3.38 |
66.88 |
70.25 |
|
moderately suitable |
1.12 |
18.98 |
20.10 |
|
unsuitable |
0.66 |
8.98 |
9.64 |
|
Total |
5.16 |
94.84 |
100 |
Tab 2.3.7.d: Percent of environmental suitability classes within EO (as obtained from the categorical-discrete distribution model) inside and outside the protected areas.
References
Blom A., Alers M.P.T., Feistner A.T.C., Barnes R.F.W., Barnes K.L. (1992). Primates in Gabon - current status and distribution. Oryx: 26(4), 223-234.
Bourlière F. (1985). Primate communities: their structure and role in tropical ecosystems. Int J. Primatol.: 6, 1-26.
Feiler A. (1990). Distribution of mammals in Angola and notes on biogeography. Vertebrates in the tropics (Peters, G & R Hutter, eds). Museum Alexander Koenig, Bonn.: 221-236.
Gautier-Hion A. (1988). The diet and dietary habits of forest guenon. In: Gautier-Hion A., Bourlière F., Gautier J., Kingdon J. (Eds). A Primate Radiation: Evolutionary Biology of the African Guenons. Cambridge University Press, New York: pp 257-283.
Gautier-Hion A., Emmons L.H., Dubost G. (1980). A comparison of the diets of three major groups of primary consumers of Gabon (primates, squirrels and ruminants). Oecologia (Berlin): 45, 182-189.
Gautier-Hion A., Gautier J. (1986). Sexual dimorphism, social units and ecology among sympatric forest guenons. Symposia of the Society for the Study of Human Biology: 24, 61-77.
Gautier-Hion A., Quris R., Gautier J. (1983). Monospecific vs. polyspecific life: a comparative study of foraging and antipredatory tactics in a community of Cercopithecus monkeys. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol.: 12, 325-335.
Ham R. (1995). Polyspecific association between grey-cheeked mangabeys (Cercocebus albigena) and four sympatric primate species in the Lopé Reserve, Gabon. [Abstract from 1995 Spring meeting Primate Society of Great Britain, Univ of Edinburgh; April, 95]. Folia Primatol.: 64, 100.
Kingdon J. (1997). The Kingdon field guide to African Mammals. Academic Press, London and New York: Natural World.
Lernould J. (1988). Classification and geographical distribution of guenons: a review. In: Gautier-Hion A., Bourlière F., Gautier J., Kingdon J. (Eds). A Primate Radiation: Evolutionary Biology of the African Guenons. Cambridge University Press, New York: pp 54-78.
Mitani M. (1990). A note on the present situation of the primates fauna found from South-eastern Cameroon to Northern Congo. Primates: 31(4), 625-634.
Mitani M. (1991). Niche overlap and polyspecific association among sympatric Cercopithecids in the Campo Animal Reserve, Southwestern Cameroon. Primates: 32(2), 137-151.
Oates J.F. (1988). The distribution of Cercopithecus monkeys in West African forests. In: Gautier-Hion A., Bourlière F., Gautier J., Kingdon J. (Eds). A Primate Radiation: Evolutionary Biology of the African Guenons. Cambridge University Press, New York: pp 79-103.
Stuart C., Stuart T. (1997). Field guide to the larger mammals of Africa. Struik Publishers.
Wilson D.E., Reeder D.M. (Eds) (1993). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Second edition. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington D.C.