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Grivet Monkey


Grivet Monkey
Photo Information
Copyright: Peter van Zoest (PeterZ) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-08-12
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Nikon D300, AF Nikkor 70-300mm f4-5.6 G, Digital RAW
Exposure: f/9.0, 1/320 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): RARE or SIGNIFICANT contributions to TN 4, CeltickRanger's favorite African animal photos 2 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2010-01-02 6:55
Viewed: 10870
Points: 66
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The most famous monkeys of Ethiopia are the Gelada Baboons, but there are other species in the wild. This Grivet Monkey was one of a group monkeys in the neighbourhood of Wondo Genet.

The Grivet Monkey is a black and white Abyssinian monkey part of the Vervet monkey group classed as genus Chlorocebus. Grivet monkeys are found only in sub-Saharan Africa. Their range extends from Senegal and Ethiopia down to South Africa. Grivet monkeys inhabit forests, woodlands and savannas near rivers and streams. They spend most of their time in the trees.

Grivet monkeys are primates with rounded heads, slender body, long hind limbs and a long tail. Their name comes from the French word guenon, which is a person who grimaces or makes faces. They are also known as Grass monkeys. Grivet monkeys have cheek pouches and white side whiskers. Their body coat is short and brownish-grey in colour. Grivet monkeys weigh between 10 - 15 pounds. They are 400 to 600 millimetres in length (head and body), with tales about 300 to 500 millimetres in length. Grivet monkeys have close-fitting moderate length hairs over most of their body.

The first digit on their hands and feet are opposable allowing the Vervet monkeys to grab hold of objects. Their hands are used for moving, feeding and grooming. The hind legs are especially strong for leaping across branches. Their long tails are not prehensile, but are used for balance, steering and braking while leaping from branch to branch. Grivet monkeys have cheek pouches to store their food as they move to a safer place to eat. When full, the cheek pouches can hold an amount of food equal to what the stomach can hold.

Grivet monkeys live in groups of 10 to 27 within a protected territory. They are most active in the morning and in the late evening. Grivet monkeys sleep in the trees but do spend some time on the ground.

They are never far from water and are good swimmers. When they become excited or angry, they grimace and expose their teeth.

Grooming is a common behaviour among most primates and Grivet monkeys are no exception. Grooming is commonly used as a courtship strategy. Grivet monkeys are omnivorous, however. they have a heavy preference for fruits and grains. In the wild, They will eat fruit, leaves, grain, roots and occasionally reptiles, young birds and insects.

Currently specific to the island of Saint Kitts the Grivet monkeys have developed one annoying habit to many tourists. The monkeys have developed a taste for alcoholic tropical fruit drinks. The monkeys will commonly steal brightly coloured drinks left behind by tourists on the beach. Many tourists have also found out these monkeys will deliver a powerful bite if they are cornered. Care should be taken when approaching any Grivet monkeys. If at one point they were domesticated in the centuries gone past, they are no longer.

Grivet monkeys have a gestation period of about 7 months. Females usually give birth to a single offspring. They breed from July to November. The young clings to its mothers belly and can support its own weight. Other adult monkeys may help in caring for and protecting the babies. Grivet monkeys can live to be 30 years old.

Grivet monkeys are classed as being 'threatened' due to continuous deforestation and destruction of their natural habitat. Potential predators of the Grivet monkeys include lions, leopards.

Source: www.animalcorner.co.uk
xTauruSx, Chiza, nglen, CeltickRanger, boreocypriensis, uleko, Hussain58, marius-secan, marine-coeur, anemone, siggi, jaycee, eqshannon, zulfu, horias, eng55, nasokoun, maurydv, anel, hansh, Noisette, smitha, Mello, tuslaw, loot has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • zetu Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 967 W: 26 N: 3888] (16941)
  • [2010-01-02 6:56]

Hello Peter
Wonderful portrait...good work!
Regards
Razvan

Hello Peter, superb shot of this cute monkey with nice face.
TFS and regards,
Deniz

  • Great 
  • Chiza Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 133 W: 0 N: 474] (5351)
  • [2010-01-02 7:19]

Wow Peter: Una maravillosa toma y acercamiento de este bello animal...saludos y muy buena información tambien...

  • Great 
  • roges Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 957 W: 0 N: 1329] (6264)
  • [2010-01-02 7:35]

Hello Peter,
Wat post voor 2010! Gorgeous, zoals het groeide en gebleekte baard zijn zoveel crisis in 2009. Hopelijk hebben we een beter 2010.
En ik wens u en uw gezin in een warme mijn hart HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Gezondheid en geluk en mooie foto in 2010.
Beste gedachten,
Adrian

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2883 W: 30 N: 9683] (36145)
  • [2010-01-02 7:48]

Hi Peter. It looks like an old man with its grey hair around its face. You were able to take a first calss close up of the head area. First class detail in the fur and eyes. Which seem to be looking at you. All with interesting notes well taken TFs.
Nick..

hello Peter

what a beautiful portrait photo of the Ethiopian Monkey,
fine frontal POV with beautiful and curious eye-contact,
fine focus sharpness and details of the Monkey,
beautifully blurred background, TFS

Asbed

Hallo Peter
Wat een mooie kop ,zo goed van scherpte en goed oog kontakt
goede details en mooie kleuren
een super plaatje Peter
groetjes lou

Haha:) whata a lovely facial expression you captured here Peter! It looks like a real human baby:)
Great start to 2010!
TFS and have a nice new week!
Cheers,

Bayram

Ciao Peter, beautiful portrait of lovely monkey, wonderful details, splendid colors and excellent sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3396 W: 172 N: 3310] (10940)
  • [2010-01-02 9:16]

Hello Peter,
What a lovwely close encounter with this beautiful Grivet monkey! Fantastic details and colours and an interesting note too!
TFS and best wishes, Ulla

Hello Peter,
wonderful shot of this unique monkey's face which is so pleasing to the eyes. The details have been captured so well.Indeed a superb portrait. Thanks for sharing and hope too the new year is proving good for you...take care...warmest regards/Abid

  • Great 
  • fthsm Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 172 W: 56 N: 512] (3689)
  • [2010-01-02 9:46]

Hi Peter,
This is a nice portrait of an interesting species. It actually looks like an old man with lots of hair :)
TFS and Happy New Year.
Fatih

Hello Peter,
Lovely portrait with exceptional details and colours. Superb sharpness.
Marius.

Impressive visage
By great details lovely portrait well done PETER.

Lovely capture of this cute monkey Peter.
TFS. Kind regards
Özgür

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3097 W: 109 N: 12399] (52850)
  • [2010-01-02 12:35]

Hello Peter.
Excellent filling portrait on this Macaque. I love the pose and tight cropping here. Quality light and very sharp detail in this shot. Very expressive face. Great shot here.
Best regards,Siggi

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2454 W: 10 N: 8044] (25460)
  • [2010-01-02 15:25]

Hi Neighbor,

A most beautiful portrait of this Grivet Monkey. The face and fur are marvelous with superfine colors, details and textures. He is so well groomed!!! He is a great model looking right at the camera.A wonderful background to show him off.

Jane

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 6595 W: 89 N: 15659] (65489)
  • [2010-01-02 15:30]

Hi Peter,another beautiful portrati from your ethipian trip...impressive quality of sharpness,colors and composition as usual.Have a nice Sunday and thanks.Luciano

A mustache on such a young creature...I wonder if it were a Creator or a Darwinian cartoon. As to me this resemble much as much an editorial shot as it does a nature shot...the combination making it VERY cool to look at. Of course your notes are superb making this a complete lesson plan Peter...I have this tendency to call folks named Peter by the nick of Pete...is that common in your homeland?
Bob

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer [C: 685 W: 0 N: 2] (43)
  • [2010-01-02 23:20]

Hello Peter,
Excellent portrait shot of this cute and litle monkey.
Colours, details and composition are wonderful.
TFS ang G's,
Mehmet

  • Great 
  • horias Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 837 W: 58 N: 2084] (11033)
  • [2010-01-02 23:21]

Peter
Wonderful capture this lovely monkey!
Sharp details and beautiful colors.
Horia

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1256 W: 42 N: 1976] (5892)
  • [2010-01-02 23:54]

Hi Peter,
Very nice portrait of this monkey.I liked sharpness,details,simple BG and expression on face a lot.Have a nice sunday!
Thanks for posting..

Happy New Year Peter,
a very good portrait, with a sharp result, the details resemble very well the same and the attribution of colors,fine photo!
keep photographing! TFS
Nasos

Hello Peter,
what a fantastic portrait of this Monkey, i like the intense look, very good sharpness and splendid natural colours, a very nice close composition
TFS
Best regards
Maurizio

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 3053 W: 3 N: 8715] (40574)
  • [2010-01-03 2:32]

Hello Peter,
What a funny monkey shot. It doesn't look very happy...must have had some bad mood.
Excellent and vivid portrait of this African monkey. And it looks straight in your lens! Sharpness, composition and natural colors, all perfect.
Très beau!
Kind regards
Anne

Oooohhh, Peter, this monkey is so lovely and I like the eye-contact so much.
You saw it in free nature, amazing ...
Very pretty post, thanks
Sabine - wishnugaruda

  • Great 
  • hansh Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 277 W: 1 N: 741] (2762)
  • [2010-01-03 7:36]

Hallo Peter.

Een erg mooie portretfoto van dit aapje. Hij kijkt je aandoenlijk aan.
Scherpte is erg goed en met mooie kleuren.

Gr. Hans

Hello Peter
very impressive portrait of this Grivet Monkey, beautiful look, sharp details and wonderful eye contact
it's a very great shot !
Have a good night
Jacqueline

Hello Peter,
Fantastic portrait. Excellent sharpness and details in the fur. The green in the background provides a beautiful contrast to the subject and helps to show off its white whiskers and fur.Good eye contact. I love the expression on its face.:)
Thanks for the share,
Smitha.

  • Great 
  • Mello Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 140 W: 34 N: 480] (2419)
  • [2010-01-04 12:30]

So cute and very well captured this little monkey dear Peter.
We can see so good and fine details around its head with great natural colours. I liked your frontal POV and DOF too, agaist the blurry BG.
TFS and see you.
Best wishes,
Francisco

  • Great 
  • tuslaw Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2754 W: 282 N: 4931] (19883)
  • [2010-01-04 19:40]

Hello Peter,
Wow! What an impressive image!! You can't possibly improve on a shot like this, the qualities are outstanding. I love the intense expression on it's face that you managed to capture. Perfect in every manner! Great work!!
Ron

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3089 W: 230 N: 6774] (23770)
  • [2010-01-05 19:58]

Happy New Year, Peter. : )
A grivet monkey? I think that is a first for me.
What a face! The expression is hilarious.
Excellent eye contact and details on this unusual monkey.
TFS. : )

  • Great 
  • loot Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5524 W: 722 N: 4163] (11276)
  • [2010-01-07 16:02]

Hi Peter

I really love this handsome little primate. It is a great image of this Grivet Monkey.
Up-close with direct eye contact and lovely highlights in those piercing eyes. A full
framed portrait with only the monkey and the OOF and well isolated green BG that
fully compliments the subject. Excellent details and lovely colours ensures that it is
visually stimulating. Excellent notes too. I've learned something about a species I
never seen before. Thanks for the introduction.

Well done MF and TFS.
Regards
Loot

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