Highland Mangabey

• Common Name: Highland mangabey
• Taxonomy Classification Year: 2005
• Monkey Size: 85 to 90 cm (33.46 to 35.43 in)
• Skin Color(s): Light or medium brown
• Habitat: Forest, rainforest
• Diet: Omnivorous
• Native Countries: Tanzania

The kipunji^[1] (Rungwecebus kipunji), also called the highland mangabey, is an Old World monkey inhabiting the upland forests of Tanzania.

• Sexual dimorphism is not apparent from adult coat color. In general, the fur is relatively long, which may be an adaptation to the low temperatures of the Rungwe-Livingstone forest.
• The back is light to medium brown, while the center of the abdomen is whitish. The center of the tail is also whitish at the tip end.
• The lower front legs are dark brown to black, and the hands and feet are black. The long, wide crest of hair along the Crown is a unique feature.
• The eyes are brown, but the eyelids are black with the rest of the face. The muzzle is relatively long with elongated whiskers.

• The kipunji has a distinctive call referred to as “horn bark“, which distinguishes it from its relatives, the Gray-cheeked mangabey and Black-crested mangabey, whose calls are referred to as “whoop-gobbles“.
• Kipunji is the first species of New World Monkey to be discovered since Allen’s Swamp Monkey in 1923.
• It is a social species found in groups of about 30-36 males and females with a maximum of two offspring.
• Head shaking has been observed in males just before the animal flees.
• Kipunji is active during the day and mostly confine their activity to trees and rarely reach the ground.