Cercocebus torquatus (Kerr, 1792)

Russell A. Mittermeier, Anthony B. Rylands & Don E. Wilson, 2013, Cercopithecidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 3 Primates, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 550-755 : 653-654

29.

Red-capped Mangabey

Cercocebus torquatus

French: Mangabey a collier blanc / German: Rotscheitelmangabe / Spanish: Mangabey de sombrero rojo

Other common names: Collared Mangabey, White-collared Mangabey

Taxonomy. Simia (Cercopithecus) aethiops torquatus Kerr, 1792 ,

Ethiopia (= West Africa).

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. Patchily in forests not more than 350 km inland from the coast in S Nigeria (W limit in forests near Dahomey Gap), W Cameroon, W Equatorial Guinea, W Gabon, and SW of the Republic of Congo (as far S as Conkouati-Douli National Park); there have been unconfirmed reports of its occurrence in Benin, butif it ever did occur there, it may now be extirpated, as was a former population near the Benue River in Nigeria.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 46-67 cm (males) and 42-59 cm (females), tail 50-76 cm (males) and 46-64 cm (females); weight 8-125 kg (males) and 5-8 kg (females). The Red-capped Mangabey is long-tailed and long-legged. It is dark slate-gray above, with a sharply demarcated white underside (including inner surfaces of limbs, chin, neck, and cheeks). Face is dark with striking white eyelids. There is a conspicuous dark red patch on the crown, outlined by a white collar and temporal line. Tail has a white tuft and is frequently held so that the white tip comes forward over the head. Males are much larger than females.

Habitat. Primary and secondary swamp and mangrove forest, and rainforest and gallery forest. The Red-capped Mangabey can also be found in young secondary forests and around cultivated areas.

Food and Feeding. Red-capped Mangabeys eat mainly fruits, seeds, and palm nuts, along with leaves, flowers, bark, gums, eggs, and animal prey (including invertebrates, reptiles, and small mammals). Fruits and seeds from canopy trees make up more than 80% of their diet in the Campo Reserve in Cameroon. Often hard objects constitute a substantial part of the diet, such as seeds of the bitter bark tree or Liberian cherry ( Sacoglottis gabonensis, Humiriaceae ).

Breeding. In captivity, female Red-capped Mangabeys have a 26-35day reproductive cycle, with receptivity signaled by a conspicuous pink genital swelling. As in other mangabey species, females regularly develop post-conception swellings. A single offspring is born after a gestation of 168 days (range 160-182 days). Neonates are almost hairless, and the red cap is not evident. Juveniles are much darker than adults. Individuals may live up to 27 years.

Activity patterns. Red-capped Mangabeys are diurnal, arboreal, and terrestrial.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Red-capped Mangabey seems to travel predominantly on the ground, but it mainly uses the middle and upper canopies when feeding (Sette Cama, Gabon, 44% on the ground). In the Campo Reserve, a group used 250 ha during 15 months. Home ranges overlap with other groups. Daily movement is ¢.1000 m. Group size is 20-60 individuals, including several adult males. In Sette Cama, a group of 60 individuals frequently separated into subgroups (fission) during foraging. Group members keep in contact by calls. Red-capped Mangabeys are often found in polyspecific association with species of Cercopithecus and, interestingly, Mandrills ( Mandrillus sphinx ), even though they evidently occupy a similar ecological niche. The social organization of Red-capped Mangabeys is probably similar to other species of capped mangabeys ( Cercocebus ); they live in multimale-multifemale groups with linear dominance hierarchies among males and females. Normally females remain in their natal groups, and males disperse to other groups.

Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix II. Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List. The Red-capped Mangabeyislisted as Class B in the African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. It is threatened by habitat loss and hunting for meat throughout most ofits distribution. It is regarded as an agricultural pest in some areas. Although Red-capped Mangabeys seem locally abundant, they now appear to be absent in areas with even low to medium hunting pressure. Red-capped Mangabeys occurs in 18 protected areas: Banyang-Mbo Wildlife Sanctuary, Douala-Edéa Wildlife Reserve, and the Campo-Ma’an and Korup national parks in Cameroon; Monte Alen National Park in Equatorial Guinea; Loango, Mayumba, Moukalaba-Doudau, and Pongara national parks and Sette-Cama Reserve in Gabon; Okomu and Cross River national parks and Igangan Ohosu, Oluwa, and Omo forest reserves in Nigeria; and Conkouati-Douli National Park in the Republic of the Congo.

Bibliography. Astaras et al. (2011), Baya & Storch (2010), Blois-Heulin & Jubin (2004), Blois-Heulin & Martinez-Cruz (2005), Blom et al. (1992), Boddicker (2006), Boehm & Mayhew (2005), Boer & Sommer (1992), Booth (1958a, 1958b), Bouchet et al. (2010), Campbell, Teichroeb & Paterson (2008), Cashner (1972), Chapman & Legge (2009), Colyn & Deleporte (2002), Cooke (2005), Cooke & McGraw (2007, 2010, 2011), Cooke etal. (2009), Daegling & McGraw (2007), Depierre & Ole (1976), Edwards (1992), Fleagle & McGraw (2002), Garcia & Mba (1997), Gartlan & Struhsaker (1972), Gautier-Hion & Brugiere (2005), Gautier-Hion & Gautier (1976), Gautier-Hion et al. (1999), Gilbert et al. (2009), Groves (1978, 2001, 2005b), Grubb (2006), Grubb et al. (2003), Happold (1973, 1987), Hill (1974), Jolly (2007), Jones & Sabater Pi (1968), Kingdon (1997), Lahm & Tezi (2006), Laurance et al. (2006), Linder (2008), Maisels, Makaya & Onononga (2007), Matthews & Matthews (2002), Mc-Graw & Fleagle (2006), McGraw et al. (2012), Mitani (1989, 1990, 1991), O'Higgins & Jones (1998), O'Higgins et al. (2001), Oates (1982b, 1995, 2011), Sabater Pi & Jones (1967), Schlitter et al. (1973), Smith & Jungers (1997), Sugiyama (1985), Swedell (2011), Tooze (1995), Waltert et al. (2002).

Figures

On following pages: 16. Arunachal Macaque (Macaca munzala); 17. Tibetan Macaque (Macaca thibetana); 18. Stump-tailed Macaque Macaca arctoides); 19. Long-tailed Macaque (Macaca fascicularis); 20. Rhesus Macaque (Macaca mulatta); 21. Japanese Macaque (Macaca fuscata); 22. Taiwanese Macaque (Macaca cyclopis).

Distribution. Patchily in forests not more than 350 km inland from the coast in S Nigeria (W limit in forests near Dahomey Gap), W Cameroon, W Equatorial Guinea, W Gabon, and SW of the Republic of Congo (as far S as Conkouati-Douli National Park); there have been unconfirmed reports of its occurrence in Benin, butif it ever did occur there, it may now be extirpated, as was a former population near the Benue River in Nigeria.