Diana Monkeys

Diana Monkeys
Cercopithecus diana diana

Geographic Distribution: West African Rainforest

These brightly colored monkeys are one of the many species of highly adaptable guenons. They have reddish orange stripes on the sides of their thighs and white beards which are shaped differently in the various sub-species. They are called Diana monkeys because the white markings on their forehead and thigh resemble the arc crescent of the moon, so they are named after the Greek goddess of the moon, Diana. Diana monkeys inhabit the upper levels of coastal rainforest and rarely descend to the ground. Their diet consists of fruits, vegetables, and occasionally insects.

There are twenty species of guenon and each have acquired their own specific facial and body marks, and have adapted to a specific ecological niche. This way they are able to co-exist in the remaining forests in Sub-Saharan Africa.