PRIMATES

Primates Id code: amd062

Cercopithecidae
Cercocebus torquatus

(Kerr, 1792 )

(Eng) White-collared or sooty mangabey

(Fre) Mangabé enfumé ou à collier blanc

Taxonomic notes

In accordance with Wilson & Reeder (1993), it includes C. t. atys (west of the Sassandra River), C. t. lunulatus (east of the Sassandra River and west of the Volta River) and C. t. torquatus (east of the Dahomey Gap). C. t. atys is considered a distinct species by Oates (1996) and Kingdon (1997).

IUCN threat category

Lower Risk, near threatened (LR: nt), both as torquatus and as atys, while it has become Endangered (EN: criteria A2c) as C. atys lunulatus (Baillie & Groombridge, 1996).

Available information

Although common throughout its range of distribution, this species has not been studied extensively, and literature available on its ecology is limited. Several studies have been conducted in captivity on its reproductive and social behaviour (Busse & Gordon, 1983; Gordon et al., 1991; Gust, 1994; 1995a; Gust & Gordon, 1993, 1994, Gust et al., 1995). Habitat requirements and use of secondary growth forests were investigated by Fimbel (1994) in Sierra Leone. A study on niche separation among primates, including the red-capped mangabey, was conducted by Galat & Galat-Luong (1985) in Ivory Coast; in their study the authors focused mainly on interspecific relationships, but they also give some information on diet and habitat preferences. A study on coexistence with other primates was also carried out by Mitani (1991) in south-western Cameroon. Very good information on status and distribution is available (Blom et al., 1992; Booth, 1979; Feiler, 1990; Groves, 1978; Happold, 1973; Mitani, 1990; Schlitter et al., 1973). Several authors have reviewed the information available on the species’ ecology, giving particular attention to behavioural aspects (Bourliere, 1985; Clutton-Brock & Harvey, 1977; Eisenberg et al., 1979; Gust, 1995b; Kingdon, 1997; Struhsaker, 1979; Stuart & Stuart, 1997). An overall and updated report on the status and distribution of this mangabey is found in Oates (1996).

Known extent of occurrence

This species occurs from Guinea to Gabon (Wilson & Reeder, 1993) but is absent within the Dahomey Gap. The distribution map was obtained from Groves (1978) and then updated using Kingdon (1997). Areas added in this last revision have been marked as "possible", since the present distribution of these monkeys is still poorly known (Fig. 2.3.4.a).

Categorical-discrete (CD) distribution model

Primarily associated with forest, abundant in mangrove swamps; found also in agricultural areas and in cut-over forest (Schlitter et al., 1973; Fimbel, 1994; Harrison, 1988).

Based on these environmental preferences, the following scores were assigned (Fig. 2.3.4.b) (2.3.4.a):

Score
1	Forests and mangroves.
2	Forest/cropland mosaics and croplands within forest and forest mosaic zones.
3	Savannas.

	suitable		moderately suitable		unsuitable		Total
OCCURRENCE	km²	%	km²	%	km²	%	km²	%
certain	255 885	33	94 806	12	42 558	5	393 249	50
possible	176 918	23	142 375	18	71 717	9	391 010	50
Total	432 803	55	237 181	30	114 275	15	784 259	100

Tab 2.3.4.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	326	1 336	15 649	30.64	1.36	21.7
moderately suitable	952	249	1 897	5.88	1.37	7.6
Total AO	84	8 002	51 369	57.68	1.46	11.65

Tab 2.3.4.b: Area of Occupancy fragmentation indexes.

Probabilistic-continuous (PC) distribution model

The output of the probabilistic-continuous (PC) distribution model is shown in Fig. 2.3.4.c.

Validation

% of EO in sample areas	Number of valid plots	Index of Accordance (%)
9.27	26	65.38

Tab 2.3.4.c: Categorical-discrete (CD) distribution model validation parameters.

Comments and conservation issues

Within the known EO the areas of "certain presence" appear to have better suitability overall than the areas where presence is marked as "possible". This is particularly evident in Nigeria where the more internal areas are classified as more unsuitable that the coastal ones; also in Ivory Coast and Liberia the "possible" areas appear more fragmented (see the CD model). The high level of accordance (65.38%) essentially refers to areas of the EO where the species is given as certain. Fragmentation of the suitable areas is high but the moderately suitable areas appear to be able to reduce the fragmentation of the total AO: the LPI of the total AO shows that it is almost continuous although highly interspersed with unsuitable areas. The species is classified as Lower Risk, but subspecies are more threatened: unfortunately only 5.5% of the total AO within the areas of certain presence is included in existing protected areas. The areas of "possible" presence are even less protected (3.4%).

OCCURRENCE	SUITABILITY CLASS	inside	outside	Total
certain	suitable	1.81	30.82	32.63
	moderately suitable	0.66	11.43	12.09
	unsuitable	0.54	4.89	5.43
possible	suitable	0.95	21.61	22.56
	moderately suitable	0.43	17.72	18.15
	unsuitable	0.19	8.96	9.14
Total		4.58	95.42	100

Tab 2.3.4.d: Percent of environmental suitability classes within EO (as obtained from the categorical-discrete distribution model) inside and outside the protected areas.

References

Baillie J., Groombridge B. (Eds) (1996). 1996 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. IUCN Species Survival Commission.

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.

Booth A.H. (1979). The distribution of primates in the Gold Coast. In: Sussman R.W. (Ed.). Primate Ecology. Problem-oriented field studies. Wiley, Chichester & New York: chap. 7: 139-154.

Bourlière F. (1985). Primate communities: their structure and role in tropical ecosystems. Int J. Primatol.: 6, 1-26.

Busse C.D. Gordon T.P. (1983). Attacks on neonates by a male mangabey (Cercocebus atys). Am.J.Primatol.: 5, 345-356.

Clutton-Brock T.H., Harvey P.H. (1977). Primate ecology and social organisation. J. Zool., Lond.: 183, 1-39.

Eisenberg J.F., Muckenhirn N., Rudran R. (1979). The relations between ecology and social structure in primates. [reprinted from Science (1972), 176: 863-874]. In: Sussman R.W. (Ed.). Primate Ecology. Problem-oriented field studies. Wiley, Chichester & New York. chap. 23: 455-484.

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.

Fimbel C. (1994). The relative use of abandoned farm clearings and old forest habitats by primates and a forest antelope at Tiwai, Sierra Leone, West Africa. Biological Conservation: 70, 277-286.

Galat G., Galat-Luong A. (1985). La communauté de Primates diurnes de la foret de Tai, Côte d'Ivoire. Revue de Ecologie (La Terre et la Vie): 40, 7-32.

Gordon T.P., Gust D.A., Busse C.D., Wilson M.E. (1991). Hormones and sexual behaviour associated with post conception perineal swelling in the sooty mangabey (Cercocebus torquatus atys). Int.J.Primatol.: 12, 585-597.

Groves C.P. (1978). Phylogenetic and population systematics of the Mangabeys (Primates: Cercopithecoidea). Primates: 19, 1-34.

Gust D.A., Gordon D.P. (1993). Conflict resolution in sooty mangabeys. Anim.Behav.46:685-694.

Gust D.A., Gordon D.P. (1994). The absence of a matrilineally-based dominance system in sooty mangabeys (Cercocebus torquatus atys). Anim.Behav. 47:589-594.

Gust D.A. (1994). Alpha males sooty mangabeys differentiate between females ovulatory and post conception maximum tumescence. Int.J.Primatol.15:289-301.

Gust D.A. (1995a). Moving up the hierarchy in young sooty mangabeys. Anim.Behav.50:15-20.

Gust D.A. (1995b). Sooty mangabeys Cercocebus torquatus atys: a little known primate species. African Primates IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group: 1(2), 51-54.

Gust D.A., Gordon D.P. & Gergits W. (1995). Proximity at birth as it relates to a sire's tolerance of his offspring among sooty mangabeys (Cercocebus torquatus atys). Anim.Behav.49:1403-1405.

Happold D.C.D. (1973). The Red Crowned Mangabey, Cercocebus torquatus, in Western Nigeria. Folia Primatol.: 20, 423-428.

Harrison M.J.S. (1988). A new species of guenon (genus Cercopithecus) from Gabon. J. Zool., Lond.: 215, 561-575.

Kingdon J. (1997). The Kingdon field guide to African Mammals. Academic Press, London and New York: Natural World.

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. (1996). African Primates Status Survey and Conservation Action plan. IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group.

Schlitter D.A., Phillips J., Kemp G.E. (1973). The distribution of the White-collared Mangabey, Cercocebus torquatus, in Nigeria. Folia Primatol.: 19 (5), 380-383.

Struhsaker T.T. (1979). Correlates of ecology and social organisation among African cercopithecines. In: Sussman R.W. (Ed.). Primate Ecology. Problem-oriented field studies. Wiley, Chichester & New York: chap. 20: 391-404.

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.