African Primates

This volume presents information and insight into research on a wide range of topics related to guenon biology. Topics include evolution, taxonomy, biogeography, reproductive physiology, social and positional behaviour, ecology, and conservation.

A great deal has been written about primates; however few volumes have focused on an entire community of sympatric monkeys at a single site. Drawing upon diverse sets of data, the authors provide a multi-thematic case study of the entire monkey community of the Taï forest (Ivory Coast). Much of the book explores how the seven monkey species have adapted to hunting pressures from chimpanzees, leopards, crowned eagles and humans. Other themes covered include feeding ecology, social behaviour, positional behaviour and habitat use, vocal communication and conservation. Colour photographs of all species are provided, showing the major behavioural characteristics of each, as little is known about these West African monkeys. This scientifically important volume will be of interest to a broad audience including primatologists, functional anatomists, psychologists, and behavioural ecologists.

These compelling stories and photographs take us to places like Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda, Ivindo National Park in Gabon, and the Taï National Park in Côte d’Ivoire for an intimate and revealing look at the lives of African wild apes—and at the lives of the humans who study them. In tales of adventure, research, and conservation, veteran field researchers and conservationists describe exciting discoveries made over the past few decades about chimpanzees, bonobos, and gorillas. The book features vivid descriptions of interactions among these highly intelligent creatures as they hunt, socialize, and play. More difficult themes emerge as well, including the threats apes face from poaching, disease, and deforestation. In stories that are often moving and highly personal, this book takes measure of how special the great apes are and discusses positive conservation efforts, including ecotourism, that can help bring these magnificent animals back from the brink of extinction.

Laminated identification guide illustrating 60 species of extant nonhuman primates (galagos, pottos, mangabeys, angwantibo, drills, baboons, monkeys, colobus monkeys, gorillas and chimpanzees) in west Africa. Covers the primates to the north and west of the Sanaga River in Cameroon, including those of the following countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.

Many of the papers in this volume were first presented at the Third International Great Apes of the World Conference, held July 3-6, 1998 in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. The editors of this volume, the first in a two-volume series, are world renowned, having dedicated most of their lives to the study of great apes. The world's premiere primatologists, ethologists, and anthropologists present the most recent research on both captive and free-ranging African great apes. These scientists, through deep personal commitment and sacrifice, have expanded their knowledge of chimpanzees, bonobos, and gorillas. With forests disappearing, many of these studies will never be duplicated. This volume, and all in the Developments in Primatology book series, aim to broaden and deepen the understanding of this valuable cause.