Behavioral patterns in a population of Samango monkeys (Cercopithecus albogularis erythrarcus)

Abstract:

The understanding of behavioral patterns in different species is an important part of the proper management and conservation of wild populations of animals. This study aims to contribute to the understanding of behavioral patterns in the samango monkey (Cercopithecus albogularis erythrarcus) of northern South Africa. Using the scan- sampling procedure, the behaviors of an isolated population of free-ranging samango monkeys in the Soutpansberg, Limpopo Province, were recorded during 16 days in the summer of 2010. The day was divided into the intervals: morning, midday and afternoon, and the behaviors social, resting, movement, and feeding were recorded and analyzed. The results showed a behavioral pattern in which the relative frequency of occurrence of social behaviors and movement were significantly different depending of the time of day, whereas the behaviors resting and feeding were not. During midday, social behaviors increased, while movement decreased. The groups’ degree of arboreality was also recorded and analyzed. The group spent significantly more time on the ground during midday compared to morning and afternoon. The amount of time this group spent on the ground is not entirely consistent with what has been described in the literature, where the samango has been described as strictly arboreal. A longer study including more environmental parameters, and using focal animal sampling together with the scan sampling method would be valuable for the further understanding of the behavior of the samango monkey.