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Southern patas monkey
The southern patas monkey (Erythrocebus baumstarki) is a critically endangered species of Old World monkey found only in Tanzania, and formerly in Kenya. It may be the most endangered primate in Africa known to still be extant, with only 100 to 200 known wild individuals.
This species was described in 1905, but later reclassified as a subspecies of the common patas monkey (E. patas). However, a 2017 review on variation and taxonomy in Erythrocebus supported reclassifying it as a distinct species based on its distinctive appearance and geographic separation from the other two species. This taxonomy was followed by the IUCN Red List and American Society of Mammalogists. Phylogenetic evidence has also affirmed E. baumstarki as being a distinct species. It is possible that due to its seemingly-relictual distribution at the fringe of the range of Erythrocebus, E. baumstarki may represent an ancient lineage of Erythrocebus that has been largely supplanted by E. patas throughout the rest of its range.
In the early 20th century, this species had a relatively small distribution in northern Tanzania and southern Kenya. Two major populations were known, separated by the Great Rift Valley: the Serengeti population, found west of the valley, and the Kilimanjaro population, found east of the valley. The Kilimanjaro population was the much larger of the two populations, ranging from Nairobi south to Lolkisale.
Over the following century, the population suffered a heavy decline; the Kilimanjaro population suffered the greatest losses despite originally being the larger population; the very last known individual, a deceased juvenile killed by domestic dogs, was recorded in 2011. Over the next several years, the species suffered further losses; the very last individual in Kenya, a lone individual sighted in Maasai Mara National Reserve, was recorded in 2015. The species' range in Tanzania had also continued to contract over the past 2 decades, and by 2021 it was restricted to the western Serengeti region.
This species inhabits semi-arid acacia woodland, primarily whistling thorn (Vachellia drepanolobium) woodland. The majority of its diet derives directly from the whistling thorn, with half of this deriving from the gum of the tree, and another half of this deriving from ants of the genus Crematogaster, which have a mutualistic relationship with the whistling thorn. The whistling thorn is primarily found above 500 meters above sea level and is not found below 200 meters, serving as a prominent altitudinal limit for E. baumstarki.
E. baumstarki is one of two known species of Erythrocebus with a black face and nose, at least in adult males, with the other being the Blue Nile patas monkey (E. poliocephalus).
E. baumstarki was likely never a common species; although it is difficult to observe, its core range is heavily visited by tourists and naturalists, and the very few historic specimens indicate that it was likely already rare when it was described in 1905. Following the dramatic declines over the 20th and early 21st centuries, this species is now exclusively restricted to protected areas. These remnant populations are thought to only total 100 to 200 total individuals, amounting to 50 to 100 mature individuals.
The largest threat to the species and the main driver of its decline is the heavy population growth in its home range, which, when combined with unsustainable use of natural resources, which has led to heavy habitat degradation, especially in V. drepanolobium woodlands. Many of these woodlands have been cleared for agriculture and livestock rearing, and remaining woodlands are frequently encroached upon by livestock, further degrading them.
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Southern patas monkey
The southern patas monkey (Erythrocebus baumstarki) is a critically endangered species of Old World monkey found only in Tanzania, and formerly in Kenya. It may be the most endangered primate in Africa known to still be extant, with only 100 to 200 known wild individuals.
This species was described in 1905, but later reclassified as a subspecies of the common patas monkey (E. patas). However, a 2017 review on variation and taxonomy in Erythrocebus supported reclassifying it as a distinct species based on its distinctive appearance and geographic separation from the other two species. This taxonomy was followed by the IUCN Red List and American Society of Mammalogists. Phylogenetic evidence has also affirmed E. baumstarki as being a distinct species. It is possible that due to its seemingly-relictual distribution at the fringe of the range of Erythrocebus, E. baumstarki may represent an ancient lineage of Erythrocebus that has been largely supplanted by E. patas throughout the rest of its range.
In the early 20th century, this species had a relatively small distribution in northern Tanzania and southern Kenya. Two major populations were known, separated by the Great Rift Valley: the Serengeti population, found west of the valley, and the Kilimanjaro population, found east of the valley. The Kilimanjaro population was the much larger of the two populations, ranging from Nairobi south to Lolkisale.
Over the following century, the population suffered a heavy decline; the Kilimanjaro population suffered the greatest losses despite originally being the larger population; the very last known individual, a deceased juvenile killed by domestic dogs, was recorded in 2011. Over the next several years, the species suffered further losses; the very last individual in Kenya, a lone individual sighted in Maasai Mara National Reserve, was recorded in 2015. The species' range in Tanzania had also continued to contract over the past 2 decades, and by 2021 it was restricted to the western Serengeti region.
This species inhabits semi-arid acacia woodland, primarily whistling thorn (Vachellia drepanolobium) woodland. The majority of its diet derives directly from the whistling thorn, with half of this deriving from the gum of the tree, and another half of this deriving from ants of the genus Crematogaster, which have a mutualistic relationship with the whistling thorn. The whistling thorn is primarily found above 500 meters above sea level and is not found below 200 meters, serving as a prominent altitudinal limit for E. baumstarki.
E. baumstarki is one of two known species of Erythrocebus with a black face and nose, at least in adult males, with the other being the Blue Nile patas monkey (E. poliocephalus).
E. baumstarki was likely never a common species; although it is difficult to observe, its core range is heavily visited by tourists and naturalists, and the very few historic specimens indicate that it was likely already rare when it was described in 1905. Following the dramatic declines over the 20th and early 21st centuries, this species is now exclusively restricted to protected areas. These remnant populations are thought to only total 100 to 200 total individuals, amounting to 50 to 100 mature individuals.
The largest threat to the species and the main driver of its decline is the heavy population growth in its home range, which, when combined with unsustainable use of natural resources, which has led to heavy habitat degradation, especially in V. drepanolobium woodlands. Many of these woodlands have been cleared for agriculture and livestock rearing, and remaining woodlands are frequently encroached upon by livestock, further degrading them.