Patas monkey

Description

This species inhabits the savannahs and dry regions of an extensive area of Africa south of the Sahara, from Senegal, Guinea and Guinea Bissau to Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania.
This animal is generally terrestrial, climbing up into trees only to sleep and to escape danger. They grow to quite large sizes, as the males can weigh up to 13 kg, although they can move very nimbly and quickly on the ground. It is the fastest of all primates and can run at speeds of up to 56 km/h.
They feed on all types of fruits, seeds, roots, resins and acacia leaves, as well as insects and small vertebrates. They obtain the water they need directly from food and almost never drink, which allows them to occupy more arid regions than most other African primates.
They live in groups of up to 30 individuals, in which there is only one dominant male and a number of adult females varying between 3 and 12. The rest of the group is made up of young and babies. They defend extensive territories of up to 52 km and almost never join up with other monkey species.
Mating occurs in their places of origin between mid-June and the end of August, with gestation lasting between 160 and 170 days. They tend to have a single child, which is transported by its mother during its initial months, clinging tightly onto her belly.
Unlike the large majority of African primates, their populations are still quite abundant in many regions and it is in no danger of extinction at this time.