Mammals diurnal

Mona Monkey

Cercopithecus mona

Meet the Mona Monkey, the charismatic forest acrobat known for its striking facial markings and impressive cheek-pouch storage. Whether in the canopies of West Africa or the tropical hills of Grenada, these social guenons are a delight to witness on any wildlife camera.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Head-body: 32–53 cm (13–21 in); Tail: 67–90 cm (26–35 in); Weight: 2.4–5.3 kg (5–11.7 lbs)

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Colors

Speckled brown and gold 'agouti' back, snow-white underbelly and rump spots, black limbs and tail, blue-grey face with a dark eye stripe and white cheek hair.

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Key Features

Bright white spots on either side of the tail base
Blue-grey face with a dark horizontal stripe through the eyes
Snow-white underbelly and inner limbs
Speckled brown-and-gold agouti fur on the back

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern diurnal

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Peak hours 6:00 AM – 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM

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Season Year-round

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Diet Omnivorous with a heavy preference for fruit (frugivorous); they also consume insects, spiders, and young leaves.

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Habitat Primary and secondary tropical forests, mangroves, gallery forests, and occasionally forest-edge suburban gardens.

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Behavior

Mona Monkeys are highly social primates that live in stable groups typically consisting of one dominant male and multiple females with their offspring. These groups, which can number up to 35 individuals, are very vocal and use a variety of alarm calls and 'booms' to communicate through the dense canopy. They are exceptionally agile leapers, often using their long tails for balance as they navigate the mid-to-upper layers of the forest.

A fascinating aspect of their behavior is their use of large cheek pouches. When they find a rich food source, they quickly stuff their pouches to capacity, allowing them to retreat to a safer, more secluded location to chew and swallow their meal away from potential predators. While they are naturally wary, in regions like Grenada, some populations have become semi-habituated to human presence, occasionally venturing near forest-edge gardens.

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Camera Tips

To capture the best footage of Mona Monkeys, camera placement is everything. While they spend much of their time in the canopy, they frequently descend to lower branches or the ground to forage for fallen fruit or cross forest gaps. Mount your camera 6 to 10 feet high on a sturdy tree trunk, angling it slightly downward toward a known 'travel limb' or a clearing near the forest floor. If you can identify a fruiting tree—like a wild fig or mango—position the camera about 15 feet away to capture the full social dynamic of the troop as they feed.

Baiting can be highly effective in areas where these monkeys are already present. Sweet, aromatic fruits like overripe bananas, papaya, or mangoes are irresistible to them. Rather than placing bait on the ground where it might be scavenged by rodents, try wedging it into the bark of a tree or a fork in the branches within the camera's field of view. This encourages the monkey to stay in frame longer and provides a better 'profile' shot of their unique facial markings and cheek pouches in action.

Because Mona Monkeys are incredibly fast and move with sudden, jerky motions, your camera settings must be optimized for speed. Use a high-speed trigger (0.5 seconds or less) and set your camera to 'Burst Mode' for photos or high-frame-rate video (at least 30fps). This ensures you don't just end up with a blurry tail in your shot. If using video, a 20-30 second clip is ideal for observing their grooming habits or how they interact with one another.

Don't overlook water sources, especially during the dry season. Mona Monkeys will regularly visit consistent puddles, birdbaths, or forest streams to drink. A camera positioned near a water source during the hottest part of the afternoon can provide some of the most intimate footage. Always ensure your camera is facing north or south to prevent the harsh equatorial sun from overexposing your images during their peak morning and afternoon activity hours.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Mona Monkey.

Campbell's Monkey

Lacks the bright white rump spots and has a more yellowish-green tint to its fur compared to the Mona's brown agouti color.

Lowe's Monkey

Very similar in appearance but has a more reddish-brown back and is found in a more restricted range further west in Africa.

Frequently Asked Questions

Mona Monkeys are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day. Their peak activity occurs in the early morning shortly after sunrise and again in the late afternoon before they retreat to the safety of high canopy sleeping sites at dusk.

If you live near their natural habitat in West Africa or Grenada, you can attract them by planting native fruit trees like figs or mangoes. Providing a safe, elevated water source and maintaining high-canopy corridors will also encourage them to visit.

Their diet consists mainly of succulent fruits, which make up the bulk of their caloric intake. However, they are opportunistic and will supplement their diet with insects, spiders, and occasionally young leaves or flowers for added protein and nutrients.

They are generally forest-dwellers but are increasingly found in suburban areas that border secondary forests or plantations, particularly in Grenada where they have adapted well to the island's mosaic of gardens and woodland.

The easiest way to distinguish them is by the rump; Mona Monkeys have two distinct bright white spots on either side of the base of the tail, which Campbell's Monkeys lack. Mona Monkeys also have a much brighter white underbelly compared to the more yellowish-grey underside of the Campbell's Monkey.

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