Dryas Monkey

• Common Name: Dryas monkey
• Taxonomy Classification Year: 1932
• Monkey Size: 40 to 55 cm (15.75 to 21.65)
• Skin Color(s): Grayish chestnut
• Habitat: Rainforest
• Diet: Omnivorous
• Native Countries: Democratic Republic of Congo

The Dryas monkey^[1], also called the Salonga monkey, Inoko, or Ekele is a little-known Old World primate only found in the Congo Basin and restricted to the Congo River’s left bank.

• An adult male Chlorocebus dryas is distinguished by its black snout, short white facial beard, and white whiskers.
• The dorsal surface of the body is grayish-brown with a coronal crown. This species also has white on the ventral body, tail, lower limbs, and buttocks.
• The upper extremities are similar in color to the rest of its body, blackish brown/dark grey.
• A mature male’s rump dazzles like fireworks on the 4th of July. A large patch of bare skin shines aquamarine under the tail and extends to the testicles.
• Above, a small patch of cherry-red skin highlights the anus. This colorful display is surrounded by a ring of bright white coats contrasting nicely with the species’ black limbs.
• Not all males have bright blue testicles and backside. It can be age-related, hormonal, or a sign of health or status within the group.

• Unlike guenon monkeys, which make loud leaps and resounding calls, dryas monkeys move silently. Instead, they murmur, whisper, chirp, and chuckle.
• These monkeys are adept at avoiding human attention but don’t be fooled into thinking they have a drab fashion sense.
• They eat a lot of herbaceous material, which is uncommon for a small monkey. For example, Dryas monkeys eat terrestrial mushrooms, insects, and the green inner bark of vines. Still, their favorite food seems to be young leaves, a notoriously difficult food to digest.
• In January 2019, the IUCN downgraded the conservation status of the Dryas monkey from critically endangered to endangered.