Biology - Chlorocebus

Question 1

Chlorocebus monkeys are commonly known as:

Answer 1

African Green Monkeys

Question 2

What do Chlorocebus adults and infants look like?

Answer 2

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.

Question 3

Are Chlorocebus sexually dimorphic?

Answer 3

Yes, males average 5.5 kg and females 4.1 kg.

Question 4

Where do animals spend their time in the wild?

Answer 4

Both on the ground and in trees. Semiterrestrial and semiarboreal.

Question 5

What is the lifespan of Chlorocebus?

Answer 5

11-13 years in wild, up to 25 years in captivity.

Question 6

Why has research use of Chlorocebus been increasing?

Answer 6

Abundance of animals in Caribbean, where they rapidly multiplied after being brought from African on trading ships in the 1700s.

Question 7

What are advantages to research with Chlorocebus monkeys?

Answer 7

Relatively small size, ease of handling, breeding success in captivity, nonendangered status, and pose fewer health and safety risks than macaques.

Question 8

How do Chlorocebus differ in their diploid chromosome from baboons and macaques?

Answer 8

60 in Chlorocebus, 42 in baboons and macaques

Question 9

Chlorocebus were previously listed in what genus? How many species are there?

Answer 9

Cercopithecus. 5

Question 10

Where do Chlorocebus live in the wild?

Answer 10

Sub-Saharan Africa and several colonies on the Caribbean islands of St. Kitts, Nevis, and Barbados

Question 11

What similarities do Chlorocebus share with other OWM? (4)

Answer 11

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)

Question 12

Describe the social structure of Chlorocebus.

Answer 12

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.

Question 13

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?

Answer 13

3-5 years. Chest rubbing

Question 14

Describe the eyelid display.

Answer 14

A brow contracture that reveals the paler skin of the eyelids. Can represent a defensive or aggressive threat behavior.

Question 15

What is unique regarding Chlorocebus communication?

Answer 15

Distinct and separate vocal predator calls to convey appropriate predator response (attack from above versus below) in conspecifics.

Question 16

When do Chlorocebus sexually mature?

Answer 16

Females: 3 years
Males: 5-6 years

Question 17

Are Chlorocebus seasonal breeders?

Answer 17

Yes, in the wild, although the breeding season is variable. Do not follow a breeding season in captivity.

Question 18

How long is the menstrual cycle in females? How apparent is menstruation?

Answer 18

30-32 days. Menstruation light and difficult to observe.

Question 19

What horomonal levels are fluctuating during the menstrual cycle and what controls these levels? What species is this similar to?

Answer 19

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.

Question 20

When does peak sexual activity occur? What physical cues are associated? How is this unique and what does this result in?

Answer 20

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.

Question 21

When does anestrus occur? What changes is it associated with?

Answer 21

March to October in the wild. Male testicle size decreases.

Question 22

How long is gestation? When do births typically occur and how long do they last?

Answer 22

163-165 day gestation. Births at night or at dawn, lasting 15-20 minutes.

Question 23

What is the average birth weight of infants?

Answer 23

318-343 grams.

Question 24

How common are twins?

Answer 24

Similar to humans, 1 in 88 births.

Question 25

What is the interbirth interval? How does this depend in the outcome of the previous year’s birth?

Answer 25

1-2 years. Females who lost an infant are more likely to become pregnant the following year.