Biology - Chlorocebus Flashcards
Chlorocebus monkeys are commonly known as:
African Green Monkeys
What do Chlorocebus adults and infants look like?
Medium-sized. Greenish-golden coat, white ventrum, blue tinge to abdominal region. Black to dark-blue facial skin. Males have distinct blue scrotum and penis. Infants have a black coat with pale-colored face, but transitioned to adult colors within 12 weeks of birth.
Are Chlorocebus sexually dimorphic?
Yes, males average 5.5 kg and females 4.1 kg.
Where do animals spend their time in the wild?
Both on the ground and in trees. Semiterrestrial and semiarboreal.
What is the lifespan of Chlorocebus?
11-13 years in wild, up to 25 years in captivity.
Why has research use of Chlorocebus been increasing?
Abundance of animals in Caribbean, where they rapidly multiplied after being brought from African on trading ships in the 1700s.
What are advantages to research with Chlorocebus monkeys?
Relatively small size, ease of handling, breeding success in captivity, nonendangered status, and pose fewer health and safety risks than macaques.
How do Chlorocebus differ in their diploid chromosome from baboons and macaques?
60 in Chlorocebus, 42 in baboons and macaques
Chlorocebus were previously listed in what genus? How many species are there?
Cercopithecus. 5
Where do Chlorocebus live in the wild?
Sub-Saharan Africa and several colonies on the Caribbean islands of St. Kitts, Nevis, and Barbados
What similarities do Chlorocebus share with other OWM? (4)
Diurnal, spend most of time on ground during day and sleep on trees at night, cheek pouches, dental formula = 2 (I 2/2, C1/1, P 2/2, M 3/3)
Describe the social structure of Chlorocebus.
Multimale-multifemale groups with female philopatry, where females remain with social groups into which they were born while males migrate out at sexual maturity. 25 individuals per group average. Matrilinear dominance hierarchy. Territorial, with adult females attacking young males emigrating from neighboring groups.
How long do alpha males generally hold this position? What behavior do males of C. aethiops do that is believed to be scent-marking behavior associated with higher ranking males?
3-5 years. Chest rubbing
Describe the eyelid display.
A brow contracture that reveals the paler skin of the eyelids. Can represent a defensive or aggressive threat behavior.
What is unique regarding Chlorocebus communication?
Distinct and separate vocal predator calls to convey appropriate predator response (attack from above versus below) in conspecifics.
When do Chlorocebus sexually mature?
Females: 3 years
Males: 5-6 years
Are Chlorocebus seasonal breeders?
Yes, in the wild, although the breeding season is variable. Do not follow a breeding season in captivity.
How long is the menstrual cycle in females? How apparent is menstruation?
30-32 days. Menstruation light and difficult to observe.
What horomonal levels are fluctuating during the menstrual cycle and what controls these levels? What species is this similar to?
Rise in estrogen midcycle, which causes a preovulatory LH surge approx. 12 days following the onset of menses. Cyclicity dependent on pituitary gonadotropic hormones and independent of uterine luteolytic factor. Similar to humans and rhesus macaques.
When does peak sexual activity occur? What physical cues are associated? How is this unique and what does this result in?
Day 13. No perineal swelling associated with peak fertility. Lack of visual cue of fertility unique among cercopithecines living in multi-male groups. Leads to confusion as to offspring paternity and allow lower-ranking males to sire a larger proportion of offspring. Strategy may result in decreased risk of infanticide.
When does anestrus occur? What changes is it associated with?
March to October in the wild. Male testicle size decreases.
How long is gestation? When do births typically occur and how long do they last?
163-165 day gestation. Births at night or at dawn, lasting 15-20 minutes.
What is the average birth weight of infants?
318-343 grams.
How common are twins?
Similar to humans, 1 in 88 births.
