cercopithecines

Cercopithecines, or Cercopithecinae, are a subfamily of Old World monkeys within the family Cercopithecidae. They are found in Africa and Asia and occupy a broad range of habitats from tropical forests to savannas and temperate woodlands. A key distinction from the related colobines is the presence of cheek pouches that can store food, along with a generally more omnivorous diet and a simpler stomach structure. They are typically diurnal and socially versatile, exhibiting varied group sizes and mating systems across species.

Taxonomically, Cercopithecinae is divided into two tribes: Cercopithecini and Papionini. Cercopithecini includes genera such as Cercopithecus (guenons) and Miopithecus (talapoins), and, in some classifications, Chlorocebus (vervet monkeys). Papionini comprises a larger and more diverse set of genera, including Papio (baboons), Macaca (macaques), Mandrillus (mandrills and drills), Cercocebus (cercocebus mangabeys), Lophocebus, and Theropithecus (geladas). The subfamily thus encompasses a wide array of forms, from small arboreal species to larger terrestrial monkeys.

Ecology and behavior vary among cercopithecines but share common features such as complex social structures, cooperative behaviors, and flexible foraging strategies. Diets range from fruit and seeds to invertebrates and leaves, with opportunistic feeding on a variety of available resources. Reproduction and social organization differ by species, with implications for territoriality, infant care, and maternal investment. Conservation status also varies; several species face threats from habitat loss and hunting, while others remain widespread and abundant. Cercopithecines have been important in biomedical and evolutionary research due to their close relationships to humans and their diverse behavioral repertoires.