Background Infornmation

Background Information

The Roloway guenon (scientific name: Ceropithecus Diana roloway) is a subspecies of the Diana guenon (scientific name: Cercopithecus Diana). The local Twi name for the Roloway monkey however is Boapea (pronounced boh-ah-pee-ah).

Roloway monkeys are extremely endangered due to loss of habitat as they are found mostly in mature undisturbed forests. Sadly, they don’t appear to be very adaptable (easily adjust) to changes in their habitat making them particularly vulnerable to human activity.

There has only been one other known study on Roloway monkeys. For this reason alone, Lindsay’s study is important. Lindsay is attempting to determine the current distribution (where they are located) and their status (how many are there left). Additionally, she is looking for patterns in how the monkeys use their habitat. Knowing all of this will allow for the Ghanaian government to focus on preserving areas that are key for their survival. Lindsay will make recommendations and form a conservation action plan in her final project report.

Moreover, studying Roloway monkeys is important because scientists believe that the health of primate populations often an indicator of the health of the ecosystem in which they live.

So What Is Known?

Not much! Because Roloway monkeys have rarely been studied, not much is known about them. Though the Diana monkey, found in Cote d’Ivoire, has been studied extensively.

Historically, Diana monkeys were found in West Africa between Gambia and Ghana. Roloways are only found in Ghana and eastern Cote d’Ivoire however. As for primates the world over, their habitat areas are decreasing and populations are becoming increasingly isolated. What is known for certain is that their populations are also decreasing throughout the area where they are found.

Known Facts

Roloway monkeys are frugivore-insectivores meaning that they eat mainly fruit and insects. They also eat leaves and seeds.
Roloways live in groups of 15 to 30 individuals and like other primates, they interact and move with other primates in the forest.
They give birth to one offspring at a time.
The average size of an adult male is around 5 kilograms and for females, 4 kilograms.
Their facial hair color is black but they have a white “beard”. Orange is found on the inside of their back legs.
Male Roloways tend to permanently leave their family group at some point in their lives. Females are philopatric. This means they stay with the group that they were born into.

Communication

Like all monkeys, Roloways communicate vocally. Their calls are used to alert the group to a predator or another monkey troop. It is a warning signal of danger. Males may also call to bring the troop back together if they have moved too far apart.

Roloways also communicate visually. They stare when they are threatening another monkey or enemy. When they do this they also raise their eyebrows which pushes their scalp backwards, showing off the bright white fur on their brow line. Sometimes they also stare with their mouths open but not showing their teeth. This is also a threatening stance. Other times they also bob their heads while staring.