Scientifically known as Cercopithecus lhoesti, the L’Hoest Monkey can be identified by its short dark brown coat and a chestnut color on its back and stomach. It has light grey cheeks with a pale mustache.
These monkeys also have a noticeable white color around their chest. They can grow up to 27 inches in body length, while the tail can grow up to 39 inches long.
A male L’Hoest Monkey weighs about 6 kg, while the female weighs about 3.5 kg. Its tail is quite long with a hook shape at the tip. L’Hoest Monkeys are born fully covered with fur and with their eyes wide open.
If you want to identify these monkeys, just look for the features mentioned above.
L’Hoest Monkeys are herbivores, so they mainly eat fruits, herbs, roots, mushrooms, and leaves. On rare occasions, they may eat lizards, small birds, and eggs.
Where to Find L’Hoest Monkeys in Uganda
In Uganda, these monkeys can be found in Maramagambo Forest in Queen Elizabeth National Park and in Kibale Forest National Park near Fort Portal.
Outside Uganda, they are also found in northeastern DRC, Rwanda, and Burundi. They are forest monkeys that live in moist and elevated primary forests.
They usually stay in different types of forest areas like gallery forests, large lowland rainforests, wooded savannahs on mountain slopes, and forest edges.
Sometimes, they are seen on farmland. In lowland forests, they prefer areas where the forest is growing back.
These monkeys build their nests in trees.
L’Hoest Monkey Behavior
L’Hoest Monkeys live in small groups, mostly made up of females. In most groups, there is only one male. The females are usually related, and the male stays with the group for a few weeks or years.
An adult male often makes loud calls to communicate with the group. They are active during the day, especially from early morning to early evening.
They sleep sitting on trees, holding each other or branches for support. When they notice something unusual, they quickly run and hide in the trees. This makes them hard to see.
L’Hoest Monkey Breeding
L’Hoest Monkeys breed at certain times of the year. The timing depends on the area where they live. Their pregnancy lasts about five months.
Females usually give birth at night, anywhere in the forest. This mostly happens at the end of the dry season. When the rainy season starts, it becomes easier for the mother to feed the baby. She eats the placenta and licks the baby clean while it clings to her stomach.
At first, the group shows a lot of interest in the newborn, but over time, the care reduces, although it continues until the baby is about two years old.
Males usually leave their birth group when they reach sexual maturity and go to join other groups.
L’Hoest Monkeys can live up to 30 years.
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