Vervet Monkey (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) Fact Sheet: Distribution & Habitat

Endemic to eastern and southern Africa

• Population present in several countries
• Botswana, Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia (Kingdon et al. 2008)

Savanna, open woodland, forest-grassland mosaic (Kingdon and Butynski 2008; Kingdon et al. 2008)

• Common near water (from Kingdon and Butynski 2008; Kingdon et al. 2008; Isbell and Enstam-Jaffe 2013)
• Rivers, swamps, lakeshores and the coast of the Indian Ocean
• Associated with several Acacia tree species (from Isbell and Enstam-Jaffe 2013)
• Including A. xanthophloea, A. tortilis, A.elatior, A. drepanolobium, and A. karroo, among others

Elevation range (Isbell and Enstam-Jaffe 2013)

• 0 to >2000 m (0 to >6560 ft)

Annual temperature range (Isbell and Enstam-Jaffe 2013)

• Mean maximum and minimum temperatures
• Minimums: 7.6-22 ^oC (46-72 ^oF)
• Maximums: 21.2-39 ^oC (70-102 ^oF)

Precipitation variable across distribution

• Mean annual rainfall: 330-1524 mm (13-60 in)(Isbell and Enstam-Jaffe 2013; Pasternak et al. 2013)
  • 250-510 mm (10-20 in); Masai-Amboseli Game Reserve, south-central Kenya (Struhsaker 1967a)
  • 400-1200 mm (16-47 in); Segera Ranch, north-central Kenya (Isbell et al. 1998a; Isbell et al. 2009)
    • Mean: 720 mm (c. 28 in)

Extremely adaptable

• Live in rural and urban areas (Kingdon and Butynski 2008)

Chlorocebus pygerythrus distribution.

Adapted from www.d-maps.com according to IUCN fact sheet.  Click here or on map for detailed distribution (IUCN)

Isbell and Enstam-Jaffe (2013)
Isbell et al. (1998a)
Isbell et al. (2009)
Kingdon and Butynski (2008)
Kingdon et al. (2008)
Pasternak et al. (2013)
Struhsaker (1967a)