Cercopithecine

Cercopithecinae, commonly referred to as cercopithecines, are a subfamily of Old World monkeys in the family Cercopithecidae. They are distinguished from the Colobinae by adaptations for a more varied, omnivorous diet and by possessing cheek pouches for storing food, as well as generally more terrestrial locomotion. Cercopithecines are distributed across Africa and Asia, occupying a range of habitats from savannas and forests to mountainous regions.

Taxonomically, the subfamily is divided into two tribes, Cercopithecini and Papionini, and includes a diverse set of genera such as Cercopithecus (guenons), Macaca (macaques), Papio (baboons), Theropithecus (geladas), Mandrillus (mandrills), Cercocebus and Lophocebus (mangabeys), and others. Notable species span the broad ecological spectrum, from the forest-dwelling mandrill to the highly adaptable macaques and baboons.

Cercopithecines tend to be highly social, forming large, multi-male, multi-female groups with complex social hierarchies and extensive grooming networks. They are generally quadrupedal and may be terrestrial or arboreal depending on species. Diet is omnivorous, including fruit, seeds, leaves, invertebrates, and occasionally small vertebrates; many species use cheek pouches to hoard food while foraging.

Conservation varies by species, but cercopithecines face threats from habitat destruction, hunting, and capture for the pet trade. Conservation status ranges from least concern to endangered, and ongoing research continues to illuminate their behavior, ecology, and evolutionary relationships within Primates.