You know how I like to have Monkey Monday Wild Facts, every now and again. Well my friends, today is one of those days! I still think a great way to start a new week is to talk about a cute and funny looking Monkey. The particular monkey that we will learn about on this Monday is the Allen’s Swamp Monkey. So do they really live in a swamp? Well, you will have to stick around to find out. Right now, I can tell you that they hang out in the Eastern and Upper Basins from Congo to Western Zaire (that is in Africa, folks).
Let’s face it, there isn’t going to be much suspense to their habitat type with a name like Allen’s Swamp Monkey. Of course, they can be found in the swamp forests or in the jungle surrounding major Rivers in the regions mentioned above. Although, they like to hang out in these flooded forests, they still spend most of their time in the trees. Perhaps, they just like the waterfront home to increase the resale value of their forest home. Smart little monkey’s are always planning for the future!
Okay, so maybe they use the water for more things then just increasing their property value. They do have webbed feet and will venture out into the shallow water to look for food. What do they eat? Well, they will consume a variety of things from both land and water. This includes, fruit, vegetation, nuts, insects, small fish, snails, and anything else they can get their hands on (and fit in their mouth). The life of the Allen’s Swamp Monkey is not easy. And not just because they live in a swamp but because they always have to be on the lookout for numerous predators including snakes, birds of prey and any other large animal that is hungry. When confronted by one of these predators, the Swamp Monkey will let out a call to let the rest of the group know what’s going on. At this point, one of two things will happen. Either they will all flee and try to escape the grasps of the predator or they will all gang up and try to overwhelm the potential predator. Obviously, these strategies vary depending on the situation but I like the idea of the monkey’s fighting back.
It looks like we are at the end of another Wild Fact. They sure do go quick. I hope you enjoy the rest of your Monday!
