CERCOCEBUS ATYS Meaning and
Definition
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Cercocebus atys, commonly known as the sooty mangabey, is a species of Old World monkey that belongs to the family Cercopithecidae. They are native to western Africa, inhabiting the tropical rainforests and swamp forests of countries such as Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Ivory Coast.
The sooty mangabey is a medium-sized monkey, with a body length ranging from 40 to 60 centimeters and a tail length of approximately 50 to 75 centimeters. They are characterized by their dense fur, which is dark, glossy, and predominantly black in color. These monkeys have a slender body frame, a relatively long snout, and a long tail that often acts as a balancing organ while they move through the trees.
They are highly arboreal animals, spending the majority of their lives in the forest canopy. Sooty mangabeys are social creatures, living in large groups consisting of around 20 to 50 individuals. They communicate through vocalizations, body postures, and facial expressions.
Primarily herbivorous, their diet mainly consists of fruits, leaves, seeds, flowers, and occasionally insects. Sooty mangabeys play an important ecological role in seed dispersal and plant regeneration within their habitat.
Unfortunately, the sooty mangabey is facing several threats, primarily due to habitat loss caused by deforestation, hunting for bushmeat, and the illegal pet trade. As a result, they are listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Conservation efforts and strict regulations are crucial for the preservation of this species and the overall biodiversity of the African rainforests.
Common Misspellings for CERCOCEBUS ATYS
- xercocebus atys
- vercocebus atys
- fercocebus atys
- dercocebus atys
- cwrcocebus atys
- csrcocebus atys
- cdrcocebus atys
- crrcocebus atys
- c4rcocebus atys
- c3rcocebus atys
- ceecocebus atys
- cedcocebus atys
- cefcocebus atys
- cetcocebus atys
- ce5cocebus atys
- ce4cocebus atys
- cerxocebus atys
- cervocebus atys
- cerfocebus atys
- cerdocebus atys
Etymology of CERCOCEBUS ATYS
The word "Cercocebus atys" has its etymology rooted in Latin and Greek.
"Cercocebus" originates from the Greek words "kérkos" meaning "tail" and "kébē" meaning "head". This name refers to the characteristic feature of members of this genus, which possess a prominent fringed crest on the crown of their head.
"Atys" is derived from the Latin word "ātys", which in turn comes from the Greek mythological figure "Atys" or "Atyss". Atys was a deity associated with the natural world, particularly nature's fertility and abundance.
Therefore, "Cercocebus atys" denotes a monkey with a fringed crest on the head, possibly a reference to the distinctive hairstyle, similar to Atys, a figure associated with nature's abundance.
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