Malbrouck (Chlorocebus cynosuros) lives in savanna grasslands across Sub-Saharan Africa. It feeds on fruits and insects. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Malbrouck
- Male malbroucks display strikingly coloured genitalia that stand out against their olive-grey fur. The scrotum is a vivid blue while the penis is a bright red, and these hues are a consistent feature of adult males.
- The malbrouck can live at altitudes reaching 4,500 m and occupies marshy forest, savanna-forest and montane forest up to that height.
- Malbroucks live in diurnal troops that can contain as few as six individuals or exceed fifty members. Each group typically has a roughly equal number of males and females, maintaining a balanced social structure. Groups defend their own territories, the size of which expands or contracts according to the amount of food available. This social organisation enables them to exploit a variety of resources across their habitat.
- The malbrouck eats a varied omnivorous diet that includes fruit, seeds, flowers and gum, supplemented by animal prey such as invertebrates, eggs, chicks and even small lizards. Plant matter makes up the bulk of what it consumes, with vegetable food forming the largest part of the diet in most areas. This mix of foods allows the species to thrive in the diverse forest and savanna habitats across its range.
- Male malbroucks are noticeably larger than females, measuring about 20% more in body size.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeSub-Saharan Africa
HabitatSavanna grasslands
DietFruits and insects
About the Malbrouck
In the sun-drenched savannas, the malbrouck monkey weaves a tapestry of agility and cunning, its slender form darting with effortless ease through the thorny acacia trees. With a twitch of its bushy tail and a flash of its piercing gaze, this charismatic creature navigates its realm with a quiet confidence, always on the lookout for the next ripe fruit or unsuspecting insect to snatch. As it moves, the malbrouck's very presence seems to embody the essence of its wild and unfettered world, a true embodiment of the untamed spirit that thrives in these African landscapes.
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