The gelada monkey | Facts & Information

# The Gelada Monkey | Facts & Information

The Gelada Monkey | Discover Fascinating Facts and Information About The Gelada Monkey

The gelada monkey (Theropithecus gelada) belongs to the genus Theropithecus, family Cercopithecidae. It can be found in the mountains of Eastern Africa at altitudes between 2000 and 4500 meters in areas with dense vegetation. The largest population of gelada monkeys is in the Semien mountains.

Subspecies:

Read More on The Gelada Monkey
The Gelada Monkey

The Gelada Monkey

The Gelada Monkey is a fascinating species of monkey that lives in the Semien Mountains of Ethiopia. This species is part of the cercopithecidae family and is known for its unique appearance and complex social behavior.

The external appearance of the Gelada monkey is astonishing and has made this species very popular among tourists and researchers. These monkeys have reddish-brown fur on their backs and a short tail. Their most impressive characteristic is their long neck, which is covered in hair and has a shiny white color. Additionally, on the upper part of their head, these monkeys have a "mane" of long and soft hair, which gives them a distinctive look.

Gelada monkeys live in large and complex groups called "harems." These groups consist of a male leader, called the "alpha male," and several females and offspring. The females are tightly bonded to each other and collectively care for the young. The harem is a strong social unit and is firmly led by the dominant male.

This species of monkey is herbivorous and mainly feeds on grass, leaves, and roots. They spend a large part of their day grazing on meadows or climbing rocky slopes in search of food. Due to their habitat, these monkeys are highly adapted to mountain life and can live at altitudes of over 4,000 meters.

Communication plays a crucial role in Gelada monkey society. They have a complex set of vocalizations and facial gestures to express their emotions and intentions. For example, they can taste the air with their lips before making major movements, indicating vulnerability and willingness to engage in social or sexual contact. These verbal and nonverbal signals ensure stability and cooperation within the group.

Display behaviors are another specific behavior of Gelada monkeys. They can be observed diving with their heads down and legs up in the air when relaxing or stretching on the ground. Additionally, males often show aggression by hitting the ground with their hands and screaming in a characteristic manner. All these behaviors add another level of complexity and diversity to the species' behavior.

Although Gelada monkeys enjoy numerous adaptations, they also face threats. Habitat loss and illegal hunting are the main causes of decline in Gelada monkey populations. For this reason, this species is considered vulnerable and benefits from the protection of designated areas in Ethiopia.

To protect Gelada monkeys and their natural environment, it is necessary to promote education and awareness. By understanding the importance of these species and the ecosystems they live in, people can contribute to their conservation. By promoting responsible tourism and implementing adequate protection measures, we can ensure the long-term survival of these wonderful monkeys.

In conclusion, the Gelada Monkey is a unique and interesting species of monkey that lives in an extremely mountainous habitat. These monkeys impress with their distinctive appearance, complex social behavior, and remarkable adaptations. Although they face threats, it is important to get involved in conservation efforts to ensure the future of this wonderful species and their natural environment.

890

Animals

36

Species

8

Languages

32

Facts

Origin

It is known by several names. It is called the "tan gelada monkey" because of its dark tan fur or the "Abyssinian gelada monkey" because the largest groups of gelada monkeys are located in mountainous lands in Ethiopia, lands that were previously called Abyssinia.

Also known as the" talking monkey "or" gelada baboon", it is considered a close relative of baboons.

It can be found in foreign or specialized literature under the names: the gelada, bleeding-heart baboon or the gelada baboon.

Studies on the sounds of the gelada monkey began in 2006. It seems that in the past, thousands of years ago it would have had a much larger spread area. Fossils have been found in South Africa and Asia, specifically in the countries of Malawi, Congo, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Algeria, Ethiopia, Morocco, Spain, India, and others.

Feeding The Gelada Monkey

The gelada monkey feeds on grass or various foods depending on the season. In the warm season they descend lower and look for insects, tubers, roots, worms or seeds.

It is mainly a herbivorous animal. Because of the way they feed, they have adapted to this life. The fingers are short and strong to drain after roots or worms.

Walking is specifically used only when feeding. Despite its large fangs, it chews its grass like a goat.

Appearance Of The Gelada Monkey

The gelada monkey is about 75cm long, and the weight is no more than 20 kg. The tail is 40-50cm long.

Specific to the gelada monkey is the long and thick fur on the top and back that protects the animal like a coat. On the chest it has an hourglass-shaped spot of red color, and the fur is short white and black.

The black face has a large and powerful snout. The canines are very large and strong. The eyes are small, the iris is dark in color. Long and strong limbs, black in color, end with movable fingers that help to easily catch food or objects. The body is large and sturdy.

Sexual dimorphism is noticeable. Males can reach 75cm and 20kg and females around 50cm and 12kg.

Northern Gelada-Theropithecus gelada gelada

Southern Gelada, eastern Gelada or Heuglin's Gelada-Theropithecus gelada obscurus

Behavior Of The Gelada Monkey

Gelada monkeys are most distinguished from other monkey species by the fact that they do not climb trees. Although strange to hear something like this from a monkey, it prefers to spend its time on earth looking for food.

Researchers are amazed at the similarity between the sounds of gelada monkeys and human speech. Researchers at the University of Michigan say vocal sounds show forgiving similarities to human speech.

The gelada monkey is a sociable monkey with a rich vocal repertoire expressed with complex facial movements, just like humans. Professor Bergman: "however, if you are in the company of these monkeys, you often get the impression that there are people around you talking. I've never had this feeling in years of research with other monkeys.”

It sleeps between rocks, in the splits of boards or in shelters that they find in the mountains. It is a diurnal species. His schedule is as follows. He wakes up in the morning, looks for some food then socialises. I travel all the time. He's in constant motion. In the afternoon they look for food then in the evening when they get close to the sleeping place they socialize a little before they go to sleep. The next day he starts all over again.

Breeding The Gelada Monkey

During the mating period the females after giving birth to him raise them together. Groups of females with cubs are led by a single male. In groups females have very close social ties.

They rarely leave the group. But they are also the ones that start conflicts most often. Females interact with no more than three members of the group. Within the group there is hierarchy.

Females that are at the top of the hierarchy have more sex and give birth to more cubs than lower ranked females.

Males who leave a group may join another group as a subordinate and then fight to take over the group. Or maybe take a few females from the group to make your own group. Groups usually change at age 8-9 because another male either wants to take over the group or the group undergoes changes (splits to form new fruits).

After mating the female gives birth to a cub of 500 grams. Most births take place at night. The gestation period is 5-6 months. The cub is carried by the female on the belly for the first 5 weeks, and then on the back.

Like other monkey species, the female reaches sexual maturity faster at the age of 4-5 years, and the male at the age of 5-7 years.

Life expectancy is about 20 years.

#Photo Gallery of The Gelada Monkey

More The Gelada Monkey images!

Uncover fascinating facts about The Gelada Monkey - from its behavior to habitat and diet. Explore our comprehensive guide to learn more!

The gelada monkey | Facts & InformationThe Gelada Monkey | Discover Fascinating Facts and Information About The Gelada Monkey