Description Of Drill Monkey
The drill monkey is also referred to as the old world monkey which is related to the baboon and more closely to the mandrills. The old world monkey is a English name given to the family of primates (A group that contains all species commonly related to Lemurs, Monkeys & Apes) Though the drill monkey is mostly terrestrial which means it relates to the earth or on the dry land, traveling over land on all fours and climbing the trees to sleep at night.
Drill monkey are only found in Cross River State, Nigeria Southwestern Cameron & on Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea. Unbelievable right? Yes, Cross River State houses beautiful adventures and a place you must love to visit too.
Though they are technically protected by the law in Nigeria & Cameroon but these Laws aren’t strongly enforced which is why these drill not only continue to be hunted but as well becoming smaller in size, Also it is said to be one of the most endangered species in Africa (Species which is considered threatened if it is likely to be endangered within the foreseen future).
Drills live in groups of up to twenty members, led by a dominant male, but occasionally these groups will come together to form super groups of over a hundred individuals. Males have red chins and red, pink and blue bottoms, and when they are excited, these colors grow brighter. The females give birth to a single baby; twins have been recorded once at the Drill Rehab & Breeding Center in Nigeria. Depending on the season and how much food is available, drills are seminomadic (a member of a people or tribe that has no permanent abode but moves about from place to place) and will rub their chests against trees to mark their area. As with other monkeys, drills communicate by using facial expressions like the “grin”, but unlike other monkeys (where grinning is a sign of aggression), when a drill grins, it is actually a friendly smile.
Drills are omnivores – they’ll eat anything. While they mostly eat fruits and various plant parts, they can also eat insects, sea turtle eggs, snails and small monkeys of other species.
Size, Weight & Lifespan
The talapoin is the smallest old world monkey with a head & body 34-37 cm in length and weighing out 0.7 & 1.3kg while the drills as one of the world’s largest monkeys, display extreme sexual dimorphism, with males growing to double the size of females. On average, a male drill can grow to about 70 lbs (32 kg) with his more petite female counterpart weighing at about 26 lbs (12 kg). Average length at maturity is 22 in (56 cm).
A drill in captivity can live on average about 28 years. Females tend to have longer lifespans than males; the oldest known drill lived to be 46 years old.
Appearance
Old World monkeys have a variety of facial features; some have snouts, some are flat nosed, and many exhibit coloration. Most have tails, but they are not prehensile.
The elusive drill’s visage is striking: a chiseled, shiny black face with penetrating amber honey eyes, a bright red lower lip, and prominent ridges along its nose.
Drill monkeys are known for being shy, but they have great smiles. They use this smile, known as an “appeasement grin,” to keep the peace when they greet others.
Fun Fact About The Drill Monkey
- Drills are Old World monkeys. These primates are more closely related to mandrills than baboons.
- One of the main forms of communication in Drills is facial expression. For example, they expose their teeth, displaying so-called ‘grin’ expression. As opposed to most primates, Drills generally use this gesture in friendly communication, although they can also use it during conflicts.
- Males of this species become more colorful as they age, exhibiting red chins as well as red, pink and blue bottoms. This color pattern is particularly notable when the animal is excited.
- Drills have a tiny natural range, which is smaller than the state of West Virginia.
- These primates spend a lot of their active time mutual grooming, which is believed to enhance relationships between community members.
- The coloration of this animal bottom is said to be as the result of blood vessels.
Did we leave anything out? Let us know what else you know about the drill monkey using the comment box below.
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