Vervet Monkey - Taxonomy

Taxonomy

The vervet monkey was previously classified as Cercopithecus aethiops. The vervet and malbrouck have often been considered conspecific, or as subspecies of the widespread grivet.

There are five distinct subspecies of vervet monkey:

• Chlorocebus pygerythrus excubitor
• Chlorocebus pygerythrus hilgerti from southern Kenya
• Chlorocebus pygerythrus nesiotes
• Chlorocebus pygerythrus pygerythrus from South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland
• Chlorocebus pygerythrus rufoviridis from Mozambique and Uganda has a distinctly reddish-coloured back, which is darker towards the base of the tail.