By Khoa Huu Nguyen
Geographic Range
Species of collared mangabey are found in West Africa and distributed from Guinea to Gabon.
(Wilson, 1993)
Habitat
Collared mangabeys are arboreal as well as terrestrial, but they mainly inhabit lower levels of the forests, especially in swamp forests. Their flexibility on the ground and among the trees allows them to have a rather broad range of habitat, including swamp and agricultural areas. Collared mangabeys typically use the trees to obtain foods and as a haven for hiding and sleeping, but they usually escape enemies and predators (leopards and eagles) terrestrially (on the ground).
(Parker, 1990 and Hill, 1974)
Reproduction
Collared mangabeys lack a well-defined breeding season.
Most collared mangabey reach sexual maturity at age 5-7 years. The gestation period lasts for about 170 days, and a female gives birth to only a single young each time. The average weight of each young is unknown. It seems that collared mangabeys lack a well-defined breeding period; however, most of our information derives from species living in captivity and little is known about their reproduction in the wild.
(Parker, 1990 and Hill, 1974)
Key reproductive features:
iteroparous 
; year-round breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; viviparous .
Behavior
Collared mangabeys are found in social groups containing 10-35 individuals. These groups contain several males, and most of them coexist peacefully and rarely display any type of dominance behavior. Each member within a group exhibits very expressive behavior. It walks with its tail arched over its back, with the white tip held just above its head. The tail movement and the tapping of its head may provide social cues or serve as a form of communication with other members of the group. In addition, many collared mangabeys display by continuously lifting and lowering their conspicuous white eyelids.
(Parker, 1990 and Hill, 1974)
Food Habits
Similar to other species of Cercocebus, collared mangabeys feed on fruits, nuts, seeds, young leaves, grass, mushrooms, and invertebrates.
(Parker, 1990)
Primary Diet:
omnivore .
Animal Foods:
insects.
Plant Foods:
leaves; seeds, grains, and nuts; fruit.
Other Foods:
fungus.
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
Many natives allege the collar mangabeys raid plantations, causing severe damage to crops.
(Parker, 1990 and Hill, 1974)
Other Comments
Cerocebus is Greek for "tail monkey." (Hill, 1974)
For More Information
Find Cercocebus torquatus information at
Contributors
Khoa Huu Nguyen (author), University of Michigan.
