Lesser Spotted-Nosed Monkey

• Common Names: Lesser Spot-nosed Monkey, Lesser Spotted Monkey, and Lesser White-nosed Monkey
• Taxonomy Classification Year: 1774
• Monkey Size: 100.58 to 115.82 cm (39.6 to 45.6 inches)
• Skin Color(s): Olive green
• Habitat: Forest, rainforest
• Diet: Omnivorous
• Native Countries: Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Togo, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal

The lesser spotted-nosed monkey^[1], lesser spotted monkey, or lesser white-nosed monkey (Cercopithecus petaurista) is a primate species in the Cercopithecidae family.

• It is a species of small monkey with a long tail. The face is black, with a white patch on the nose.
• A white stripe extends from the temple to below the ear. The Crown, back, outer limbs, and upper tail are olive or khaki.
• In some species, the middle and lower back have a reddish tint. The individual hairs, especially on the Crown, are mottled with black and yellow.
• The underparts, the limbs’ inside, and the tail’s underside are white or cream.

The Lesser Spot-nosed Monkey feeds on these food sources^[¶]:

• Fig (Ficus)
• Chinalaurel (Antidesma)
• Leaf Flower (Phyllanthus)
• Hairy Rock Fig (Ficus glumosa).
• Persimmons (Diospyros)
• Ohia (Celtis zenkeri)
• Guanabanilla (Ouratea striata)
• Chinese Banyan (Ficus thonningii).
• African Nutmeg (Pycnanthus angolensis).
• Sacred Garlic Pear (Crateva religiosa).
• Boleko Nut (Ongokea gore).
• Raphia Palm (Raphia africana).
• African Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis).

• The lesser spotted-nosed monkey is diurnal, arboreal, and cryptic; it moves cautiously through the forest, rarely climbing to high treetops but mostly visiting undergrowth and vines.
• It forms social groups of about 10 individuals, usually one adult male, several adult females, and their young.
• It feeds on fruits, leaves, flowers, and insects, collecting its food and storing it in the cheek pouches.
• Females give birth to single young after a gestation period of about 7 months. Therefore, breeding does not appear to be seasonal.
• The group’s male emits an alarm call similar to a cat’s purr, distracting potential predators so that the rest of the group can seek refuge elsewhere.