spathodus marlieri is a species of cichlid endemic to lake tanganyika where it is only known from the northern portion of the lake .

this species prefers areas with rocky substrates in very shallow waters to a depth of about 2 metres ( 6.6 ft ) .

this species can reach a length of 10 centimetres ( 3.9 in ) tl .

it can also be found in the aquarium trade .

spathodus marlieri

spathodus erythrodon is similar to marlieri in teeth only . in fact , it is hard to distinguish spathodus erythrodon from eretmodus cyanostictus except for the teeth . both species of spathodus have long and cylindrical teeth . erythrodon is imported to the u . s . on a somewhat regular basis .
spathodus marlieri is the monster of the group , with females reaching 2 . 5
and males a whopping 4
. it is the least likely to be seen in the aquarium of hobbyists . its reputation is one of nastiness and an overall bad attitude . it is reported to be a maternal mouthbrooder though i cannot speak from first hand experience with this fish . if anyone reading this has kept this fish , please let me know !
the
gobies
are typically thought of as being one of five species from three geneses . the list includes spathodus marlieri , spathodus erythrodon , eretmodus cyanostictus , eretmodus
cyanostictus north
, and lastly tanganicodus irsacae . all of these are mouthbrooders and all of them live in the shallow water or surge habitat of the lake . males tend to be larger than females and may contain a bit more color . of course , none of the gobies are particularly striking when it comes to color but they sure make up for that in their comical personalities . it may be why these fish are also called
clown
cichlids in europe . they also appear to be a bit comical in appearance as well .
except for spathodus marlieri , all gobies are bi - parental mouthbrooders . the female holds the eggs for the first ten days or so then she exchanges the eggs to the male for the next ten days . pairs of gobies stay close to one another throughout the aquarium whether breeding or not . it is quite endearing to see a pair of fish journeying around the tank , never straying far from its partner . spawns are usually under 25 fry , although my experience has shown counts smaller than that .
in the wild they are found alone or in pairs . their routine is different from their cousin the blue goby cichlid spathodus erythrodon , who ' hops ' from place to place . rather , they will swim long distances along the substrate looking for food . they feed by picking algae and micro - organisms living in the algae from the rocks .
maréchal , c . and m . poll , 1991 . spathodus . p . 458 - 459 . in j . daget , j . - p . gosse , g . g . teugels and d . f . e . thys van den audenaerde ( eds . ) check - list of the freshwater fishes of africa ( cloffa ) . isnb , brussels ; mrac , tervuren ; and orstom , paris . vol . 4 . ( ref . 5695 )
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greek , spathe = sword + greek , odous = teeth ( ref . 45335 )
freshwater ; benthopelagic ; depth range ? - 2 m . tropical ; 25°c - 27°c ( ref . 2060 ) ; 3°s - 6°s
maturity : l m ? range ? - ? cm max length : 10 . 0 cm tl male / unsexed ; ( ref . 5695 ) ; common length : 7 . 0 cm ng male / unsexed ; ( ref . 6770 )
swims over rock bottom for long distances , alone or in pairs , instead of jumping from place to place between pebbles as s . erythrodon does . feeds by picking microorganisms from the rock biocover ( ref . 6770 ) .
phylogenetic diversity index ( ref . 82805 ) : pd 50 = 0 . 7500 [ uniqueness , from 0 . 5 = low to 2 . 0 = high ] .
bayesian length - weight : a = 0 . 01514 ( 0 . 00700 - 0 . 03275 ) , b = 2 . 97 ( 2 . 80 - 3 . 14 ) , in cm total length , based on lwr estimates for this ( sub ) family - body shape ( ref . 93245 ) .
trophic level ( ref . 69278 ) : 3 . 3 ±0 . 4 se ; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
resilience ( ref . 69278 ) : high , minimum population doubling time less than 15 months ( preliminary k or fecundity . ) .
vulnerability ( ref . 59153 ) : low vulnerability ( 12 of 100 ) .
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fish information for african cichlids - lake malawi , lake tanganyika , lake victoria , west african cichlids , and dwarf cichlids including cichlid care , cichlid breeding , and fish diseases .
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fish information on the types of cichlids from lake tanganyika , tropheus cichlids , frontosa , goby cichlids , shelldwellers and more , habitats and cichlids tanks for tanganyika cichlids .
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is the largest , and also the most tolerant of the lake tanganyika gobies . while the females are smaller at 2 . 5” ( 6 . 4 cm ) , the males will reach up to 4 inches ( 10 . 2 cm ) in length . this species is commonly called
plain ,
but perhaps that ' s because it is not quite as brilliantly adorned as the other gobies . yet this fish it actually very pretty . it has a body colored in dark brown splotches and is topped with electric sky blue dots on the front half .
this cichlid is fascinating in both appearance and in personality . they will spend much of its time swimming over the bottom searching for food , but will also use their rigid pectoral fins to ' perch ' on the substrate . their color patterning is designed to help camouflage them in nature . in the aquarium this patterning and their and swimming style gives their keepers the impression that they are playing ' hide and seek . ' . their larger size also makes them more visible than their smaller cousins .
plain goby cichlids are an intriguing choice for the cichlid enthusiast who has limited space and cannot provide a large aquarium . as long as their needs are met , aquarists with some experience will find they are easy to moderate to care for . provide stacked rocks with lots of caves and crevices for hiding and flat stones in the front for perching . some natural sunlight will help algae growth on the stones , which the gobies relish . an extra enjoyment for these fish is adding a wave - making box , similar to those used in aquariums , which will simulate the water surge of their natural environment .
these cichlids can be kept alone or in pairs but are generally not tolerant of their own species or other goby cichlids . in fact they are said to be the most aggressive of the tanganyikan gobies . they primarily inhabit the bottom of the tank so can be housed with some other mid - water cichlids . avoid other cichlids that are too large or boisterous , like the mbuna from lake malawi . good tankmates are species that inhabit the upper and middle areas of the aquarium rather than the lower substrate areas of these fish .
the goby cichlids from lake tanganyika are an intriguing and attractive group of fish .
goby cichlids are members of the eretmodini tribe belonging to the pseudocrenilabrinae subfamily under the cichlidae family . currently there are five recognized species of eretmodines placed in three genera : plain goby cichlid
these fish are unique in the natural environment where they are found and in body shape .
scientists speculate that their body shape is most likely an adaptation to their environment . they are small fish , give or take around 3
in length . they live close to the shore in shallow waters , usually less than 3 feet ( 1 m ) and never more than 10 feet ( 3 m ) . the sandy substrate is strewn with rocks and pebbles . these are fast moving waters subject to ' surge ' , where the shoreline is continuously washed with wind driven waves .
the shallow waters get good sunlight penetration and have relatively clear visibility , but the goby cichlids are difficult to see . their interesting color patterns that can readily be seen in the aquarium create a camouflage in the wild .
the rocky rubble substrate has plenty of healthy algae growth which houses small crustaceans and insect larvae . this provides a diverse diet for this bottom dwelling cichlid .
there are few aquatic predators in such shallow water , but these areas are preyed upon by birds . the goby cichlids forage the substrate with their snout like mouths while with their eyes , mounted high on the head , and their heavily spined dorsal fin help them evade airborne predators .
the rugged water movement of the ' surge zone ' requires special adaptations so that these shallow dwelling fish do not get picked up and dashed into the rocks .
their swim bladder is greatly reduced giving them little buoyancy . this keeps them close to the bottom and makes for a rather comical hopping motion when they swim .
their pelvic fins are positioned downward and have stiff heavy spines . perching on their pelvic fins helps them cling to the substrate and maintain their position in the fast moving waters .
was described by poll in 1950 . these fish are endemic to the northern end of lake tanganyika , africa . this species is listed on the iucn red list of threatened species as least concern ( lc ) as they are widespread along their range in the northern parts of lake . although they are at risk due to increased siltation , it is not significant enough to consider them threatened .
they prefer the top part of the water column , not often venturing below 6 . 5 feet ( 2 m ) . they inhabit the rubble or pebble edges of the shoreline , called the ' surge zone . ' this area is continually washed by waves that are driven by the wind . this water has a ph of over 9 due to the releases of oxygen at the shore called “faunal exhaust . ”
the plain goby cichlid is a small , moderately elongated fish , but they are the largest of the tanganyikan gobies . the females are smaller at 2 . 5” ( 6 . 4 cm ) , but the males will reach up to 4 inches ( 10 . 2 cm ) in length . their average life span of the tanganyikan gobies is said to be approximately 3 - 5 years , though like other african cichlids they may live longer when well maintained and provided proper diet and care .
the body of this fish has darker brown splotches with electric sky blue dots on the front half of the body . the back half is a lighter plain color and the belly is lighter still . the dorsal , tail , and anal fins are a very light blue tipped in a muted gold and lined in brown .
they have a uniquely shaped mouth with their top lip almost looking like an “overbite” . their eyes are located toward the top of their head . these cichlids have one row of teeth on each side of their jaw that are long and curved with tips that are blunt , used for eating algae off of rocks . all cichlids share a common feature that some saltwater fish such as wrasses and parrotfish have and that is a well - developed pharyngeal set of teeth that are in the throat , along with their regular teeth .
with the name goby , one would rightly picture a hopping motion that these fish use due to the absence of a swim bladder . their pectoral fins are heavy , sharp and located lower than other cichlids . they use these fins in an almost
foot
like application by pointing them straight down and digging into the rock or rubble to keep from being thrown around by waves .
cichlids have spiny rays in the back parts of the anal , dorsal , pectoral , and pelvic fins to help discourage predators . the front part of these fins are soft and perfect for precise positions and effortless movements in the water as opposed to fast swimming . cichlids have one nostril on each side while other fish have 2 sets . to sense “smells” in the water , they suck water in and expel the water right back out after being “sampled” for a short or longer time , depending on how much the cichlid needs to “smell” the water . this feature is also shared by saltwater damselfish and cichlids are thought to be closely related .
4 . 0 inches ( 10 . 16 cm ) - females grow to 2 . 5” ( 6 . 4 cm ) , but males will reach up to 4 inches ( 10 . 2 cm ) in length .
3 years - the lifespan of lake tanganyikan gobies is said to be 3 - 5 years , but as with other african cichlids , they may live longer with proper care .
the plain goby cichlids are suggested for the intermediate aquarists due to their sensitivity and specific requirements . they are easy to moderate to care for , but they are aggressive and they require top - notch water conditions . diligent attention must be given to their requirements of diet and habitat . the aquarists must also be willing to do frequent water changes and provide appropriate tank mates .
the lake tanganyikan goby species are rather expensive fish that have rather specific , though uncomplicated needs . they are fine in an aquarium of 30 gallons or more and can be kept in a cichlid community . but their tank needs to have good filtration with highly oxygenated water , and their diet must consist of a variety of quality foods .
intermediate - these fish must have appropriate tankmates and require attention to diet and tank care .
the plain goby cichlid is an omnivore . in the wild they pick algae and microorganisms from the rock biocover . in the aquarium they can be fed nutritious live foods , tablets , and some will accept frozen or flake . flakes are often accepted by captive bred fish though captive caught fish are less enthusiastic . a varied died is important however , as a diet consisting of just flakes has been said to contribute to bloat .
provide a diet of high quality spirulina or vegetables such as blanched chopped peas , broccoli or lettuce . also feed crustaceans , cyclops , brine shrimp , glassworms , or other special foods for lake tanganyika cichlids . on rare occasions you can feed bloodworms , but high protein foods such as shellfish , meat ( especially animal meat ) and other worms should be avoided . all fish benefit from vitamins and supplements added to their foods . feed smaller amounts of 2 to 5 small pinches of food several times a day instead of a large quantity once a day .
some of diet - avoid high protein foods such as shellfish , animal meat , and worms .
several feedings per day - generally feed 2 - 3 small feedings a day rather than a single large feeding for better water quality .
the plain goby cichlid needs diligent maintenance for good water quality . regular partial water changes are very important and removing any uneaten foods will help prevent disease . do water changes of 10 % to 15 % a week , or more frequent changes depending on the nitrite / ammonia levels and stocking numbers .
the lake tanganyika cichlids cannot handle large water changes very well unless the new water chemistry closely matches the water they are in . if a large water change is needed , changing 15 % every couple of days should bring water back to normal . this inability to tolerate large water changes is due to lake tanganyika being very deep and the water tends to stay stable .
weekly - water changes of 10 % to 15 % a week are recommended .
the plain goby cichlids will swim mostly on the bottom and occasionally in the middle areas of the tank . though they are a smaller cichlid they are shy and need a minimum 30 gallon aquarium . a tank that is 4 foot long , 75 gallon or more , is better for long term maintenance and if you wish to keep a cichlid community . they need good water movement along with very strong and efficient filtration . extra aeration is suggested for the aquarium to provide optimal oxygen levels . lake tanganyika is a very oxygen rich lake , and in nature these cichlids occur in the
surge
zones near the shore where the water is always high in oxygen .
with a fine sand substrate , undergravel filtration is very difficult to implement . an external canister filter or hang on tank filter can be used as long as the flow rate is higher than required for your particular tank because of the oxygenation that is required . make sure the intakes are well above the sand and have a protective cover to prevent sand from entering the filter , or the impeller will wear out quickly .
for lake tanganyika cichlids the water needs to be well buffered and maintained with small , regular water changes . they do fine in either freshwater or brackish freshwater . the surge zone areas of lake tanganyika have a ph of over 9 . this is due to the releases of oxygen at the shore called ' faunal exhaust ' . keep an eye on ph parameters for the goby cichlids . a higher ph means that ammonia is more lethal , so water changes are a must for these fish . in addition keep an eye on total hardness and carbonate hardness . avoid overfeeding and overstocking .
the best set up is a system of caves that reach almost to the water surface , formed by rocks or flowerpots . though they primarily inhabit the bottom parts of the tank , this provides a higher refuge for the female when the male gets aggressive . laying stones at the bottom and front of the tank for perching and growing the algae the gobies relish is also suggested . positioning the tank near natural sunlight will encourage growing this beneficial algae .
a sandy substrate is needed as it is thought to aid in the goby cichlid’s digestion . it is helpful to use sand that is designed for marine aquariums which will help keep the ph high . salt is sometimes used as a buffering agent to increase the water ' s carbonate hardness . an alternative buffering approach is to use a chemical filtration method , where the water passes through layers of crushed coral or coral sand .
although rift lake cichlids need hard alkaline water they are not found in brackish waters . this cichlid has some salt tolerance so can be kept in slightly brackish water conditions . however it not suited to a full brackish water tank . salinity must be less than about 10 % of a normal saltwater tank , a specific gravity of less than 1 . 0002 .
for freshwater an optional practice is to add 1 heaping teaspoon of salt per 11 gallons of water . this is considered to be a simple and natural remedy for wounds , minor fungal infections and film over the eyes of fish in transit . tanganyika cichlids also need iodine for the thyroid to function properly to regulate growth and development , and which can be achieved by adding iodized table salt to the water . be very careful to not add too much salt as this may cause bloat . using a marine salt ( used for salt water fish ) will add some trace elements .
30 gal ( 114 l ) - the minimum size for a pair of these cichlids is 30 gallons but a 4 foot long , 75 + gallon tank will be needed to keep a cichlid community .
moderate - normal lighting - normal lighting is okay , but stronger lighting will help with algae growth .
sometimes - can tolerate a low salinity , but must be less than 10 % of a normal saltwater tank , a specific gravity of less than 1 . 0002 .
the plain goby cichlid is a community cichlid that can be kept with smaller mid - water swimming cichlids . they can be kept alone or in pairs , but are generally not tolerant of their own species when not paired up . in the wild they are the more tolerant of other goby species , but in the aquarium it is a gamble . in fact , this species has a reputation as one of the most abrasive gobies in the aquarium with an overall bad attitude towards conspecifics . they do best in a species specific tank if you want to see much of them or breed them .
they can be kept with some other cichlids , but will feel threatened and hide if the other fish swim in the lower regions or compete for the same foods . they will stay hidden in the rockwork but won ' t get hurt . housing with mid - water fish gives them more “room” and allows them to come out of hiding . avoid other cichlids that are too large or boisterous , like the mbuna from lake malawi . good tankmates are species that inhabit the upper and middle areas of the aquarium rather than the lower substrate areas of these fish .
semi - aggressive - is generally compatible with mid - water cichlids of similar size but not with the same species .
sometimes - mostly intolerant of their own species , but can be kept as a pair .
males and females have an almost identical appearance , but when adults , the males are larger and develop a more pronounced hump on the forehead .
the plain goby cichlid has been bred in captivity . these are the only gobies in the cichlidae family that are not biparental mouthbrooders . this may be because they are the largest of the gobies , allowing the female to carry the eggs full term . only the female cares for the young from beginning to end . a strong bond between the male and female is established by buying around 6 juvenile goby cichlids and waiting for them to pair . once they pair , remove the other fish . just buying a male and female that are not paired will end in the female being harassed to death .
the female will clear a flat spot in the tank and display to attract the male . she will lay only 1 or 2 eggs and then immediately pick them up in her mouth . the male then swims over and the female nuzzles his vent until he releases sperm , which she takes into her mouth to fertilize the eggs . she will do this over and over until 10 to 30 orange / yellow eggs are produced . the number is dependant on her age and nutritional levels .
the female carries the eggs through hatching and the full development of the fry . the female releases the fry at night , only letting out a few at a time in different areas . the female waits until they find a hiding place but if a fry does not seek shelter , the female pulls it back into her mouth before she moves on .
provide small shells and piles of small stones for the fry to hide in after they are released . be sure to cover intakes with screen . if there is a need to remove the 10 mm ( . 3” ) long fry , wait until the female is done releasing the fry so as not to disturb her .
feed the fry artemia nauplii and powdered spirulina flake , and within a few weeks they will graze on algae . they double their size in 6 weeks . in 4 to 5 months , they will reach . 9” to 1 . 1” ( 2 . 5 - 3 cm ) and are sexually mature between the 10th and 14th month after the female releases them . in the case of a male being too aggressive toward the female , she can be separated from the male . see more information on breeding cichlids in breeding freshwater fish : cichlids .
the goby cichlids are relatively hardy as long as diligent attention is paid to maintaining their environment and diet . these fish are susceptible to typical fish ailments , especially if water is stale and of poor quality and has low oxygenation . an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure . water changes , not overfeeding or overcrowding , and observation along with feeding your fish the proper foods ( thawing frozen food and adding vitamins ) will keep them in optimum health . for freshwater an optional practice is to add 1 heaping teaspoon of salt per 11 gallons of water . this is considered to be a simple and natural remedy for wounds , minor fungal infections and film over the eyes of fish in transit .
one common problem is ich . it can be treated with the elevation of the tank temperature to 86° f ( 30° c ) for 3 days . if that does not cure the ich , then the fish needs to be treated with copper ( remove any water conditioners ) . several copper based fish medications are available for ich . copper use must be kept within the proper levels , so be sure to follow the manufacturers suggestions . you can also combine increasing the temperature with an ich medication treatment . a copper test also can be used to keep the proper levels .
as with most fish they are susceptible to skin flukes and other parasitic infestations ( protozoa , worms , etc . ) , fungal infections , and bacterial infections . it is recommended to read up on the common tank diseases . knowing the signs and catching and treating them early makes a huge difference . for information about fish diseases and illnesses , see aquarium fish diseases and treatments .
the plain goby cichlid is quite rare online or in fish stores . you may be able to special order , but these cichlids are relatively costly and price varies depending on age and size .
dr . rüdiger riehl and hans a . baensch , aquarium atlas vol . 2 , publisher hans a . baensch , 1993
mark phillip smith , lake tanganyika cichlids , a complete pet owners manual , 2nd edition , barron ' s educational series , inc . 2007
glen s . axelrod , brian m . scott , neal pronek , encyclopedia of exotic tropical fishes for freshwater aquariums , tfh publications , 2005
rhett butler ,
cichlids - lake tanganyika
, mongabay . com , referenced online , 2007
glen s . axelrod , rift lake cichlids , t . f . h . publications , inc . , 1979
copyright © [ animal - world ] 1998 - 2015 . all rights reserved .
snoeks , j . ( freshwater fish red list authority ) & darwall , w . ( freshwater biodiversity assessment programme )
justification : a widespread species of the shallow surf zone in the northern parts of lake tanganyika . it is threatened by increased siltation but is sufficiently widespread so as not to qualify as threatened .
endemic to lake tanganyika where it is distributed in northern the part of lake .
to make use of this information , please check the < terms of use > .
where as some fish are from lake tanganyika are overrated , some are actually not given enough credit . a great example of this would be any of the goby cichlids from lake tanganyika .
all gobies have a somewhat
deflated swim bladder making them look like they
hop
across the bottom of the aquarium . they also have a snout - like head and eyes placed high on the head as well . all gobies have a spiny dorsal fin designed to deter birds . this dorsal fin can also be a bit of a hassle in an aquarium net .
all gobies graze through the algae layer on the rocks , eating both algae and the small organisms living among it . in the aquarium i like to feed them spirulina based flakes and other typical fare . they are not picky eaters and adapt to any food pretty easily . they are not strictly vegetarians .
i will briefly discuss all five species of gobies but , will concentrate on the few that i have kept in my aquariums .
eretmodus cyanostictus and eretmodus
cyanostictus north
are basically the same fish except that the northern type has a more underslung mouth . i really enjoyed keeping this fish . i kept a male of the northern type in a large tanganyikan community tank several years ago . he had a strange nature about him . first , he enjoyed playing hide and seek . ok , ok , he never did close his eyes and count but he used to take turns peering behind a large rock in the center of the aquarium . when you looked at him on the right side of the rock , he would scoot around it and look at you from the left side of the rock . when you leaned over to look at him on the left side of the rock he would go to the right side . it was really crazy . i have multiple witnesses to this spectacle and people would laugh out loud at this nutty fish . of the thousands of fish i kept over the years this is one of the few that my wife , brenda , named . his name was charlie . you ' re not going to get me to admit i called him charlie but my wife did . another strange thing was even though i fed ( how do i say this ? ) charlie , he was more apt to come to the front of the tank from behind his big rock when she was there . talk about weird , it happened every time . alas , charlie is no longer with us and my wife has never attached herself to a fish again .
though this eretmodus was a great fish , i got lucky enough to receive a pair that was from bemba . this pair had some orange between their vertical stripes and they had some bright blue spots . they were the best looking gobies i have ever seen and they spawned well for me . the male was about 3 . 25
and the female a bit smaller then that . they were a wild pair and i understand why wild gobies are so popular ; they are inexpensive for wild fish and the fry take a long time to grow up . anyone who had grown up any altolamprologus can appreciate the growth rate of this fish . i would dare to say it is about as slow as any cichlid ! the babies i had from this pair were always in high demand from anyone who saw them .
lastly there is the smallest of the bunch , tanganicodus irsacae . a wild pair i owned consisted of an adult male at 2 . 5
and a female at 2
. they had nice neon blue dots on them and a pointy mouth . not quite like the snout - like mouth of the other gobies . unfortunately the male never seemed particularly pleased with the female and he always chased her around the tank . she died a few months after i got her , probably from the stress of being chased all the time . i would like to try them again when i get the chance .
speaking of chances , why not give one of the tanganyikan gobies a chance and see why i believe this is one underrated fish .
if you like to see a regular article on new world cichlids similar to this one , ask del calhoun . he promised me two years ago if i took up writing a regular cichlid article that he would do one as well . if you don ' t know who del is , you can find him hanging out in the hall during meetings with a diet coke attached to his left hand . this leaves his right hand free for writing . don ' t be shy . he thinks people who enjoy south american cichlids can ' t read but i don ' t believe that ' s really true . but then again maybe . . . □
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the black crested mangabey ( lophocebus aterrimus ) is a species of primate in the family cercopithecidae .

it is found in angola and democratic republic of the congo .

its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests .

it is threatened by habitat loss .

black crested mangabey

black - crested mangabey geographic range in africa . map credit : chermundy and iucn .
zingo , a black - crested mangabey born at brookfield zoo . ( brookfield zoo )
a black crested mangabey , native to the forests of central africa , examines an enrichment puzzle .
the black crested mangabey occurs in primary and secondary rainforest , gallery forest and swamp land ( 4 ) .
the tana river crested mangabey cercocebus galeritus and the sanje mangabey cercocebus sanjei are listed as endangered by the international union for conservation of nature , while the black crested mangabey lophocebus aterminus ssp . is listed as near threatened .
the black crested mangabey is found in the democratic republic of the congo , south of the congo river , and in angola ( 1 ) .
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the white - eyelid mangabey’s genus name “cerocebus” means
tail monkey
in greek ; the crested mangabey’s genus name “lophocebus” means
crest monkey .
zingo ,
a baby black - crested mangabey was born on july 4 , the zoo said . zingo was born to 7 - year - old mother kiwi and 15 - year - old father videll and is the first black - crested mangabey born at the zoo , which has exhibited the species since 2015 .
the black crested mangabey is classified as near threatened ( nt ) on the iucn red list ( 1 ) and listed on appendix ii of cites ( 3 ) . subspecies : the northern black mangabey ( lophocebus aterrimus aterrimus ) is classified as near threatened and the southern black mangabey ( lophocebus aterrimus opdenboschi ) is classified as data deficient ( dd ) on the iucn red list ( 1 ) .
as its name suggests , the black crested mangabey ( lophocebus aterrimus ) can be distinguished from other mangabey species by the prominent pointed black crest of hair on top of its head ( 4 ) . often called “the ones with the thin waist” by locals ( 5 ) , mangabeys are slender monkeys of medium size , with tails that are longer than the length of the body ( 6 ) . the black crested mangabey has coarse black fur on the rest of its body , and grey , outward - curving cheek whiskers ( 7 ) .
listed under class b of the african convention on the conservation of nature and natural resources , the capturing and killing of the black - crested mangabey is currently permitted only with permission .
little information is available on the breeding biology of the black crested mangabey in the wild . in the democratic republic of the congo , the black crested mangabey has been recorded giving birth in the wet season , in july and august ( 16 ) . mangabeys commonly give birth to a single young after a gestation period of five and a half to six months ( 9 ) .
the female black crested mangabey is typically smaller and more slender than the male ( 2 ) , and the fur of the juvenile is usually darker than that of the adults ( 8 ) .
the yokokala faunal reserve ( also in the democratic republic of the congo ) , was originally created to conserve the population of bonobos , and now also works to conserve the black - crested mangabey population .
like many other mangabey species , the black crested mangabey is also hunted for bushmeat ( 1 ) ( 14 ) . the construction of roads by logging companies opens up previously inaccessible areas of forest , increasing the threat of hunting for the region’s wildlife ( 17 ) .
the black crested mangabey is listed under appendix ii of the convention of international trade in endangered species ( cites ) , meaning that international trade in this species should be carefully controlled ( 3 ) . it is also listed under class b of the african convention on the conservation of nature and natural resources , which means that capture and killing of the black crested mangabey is only allowed with permission ( 18 ) .
the crowned hawk eagle ( stephanoaetus coronatus ) is a common predator of the black crested mangabey . when this bird is detected , the mangabey gives an alarm - bark then seeks cover in the dense canopy foliage , where it will remain silent for many hours ( 13 ) .
in the 1920s . gray - cheeked and cherry - headed mangabeys were added in the 1930s , and we celebrated the birth of our first sooty mangabey in 1933 and the birth of the first gray - cheeked mangabey in the us in 1936 . black - crested mangabeys were added in 1960 , and our first golden - bellied mangabey arrived in 1991 .
today , the zoo is home to northern black - crested mangabeys . they can be seen living with colobus monkeys along the monkey trail in lost forest .
two subspecies of the black crested mangabey are recognised . lophocebus aterrimus aterrimus occurs in the central congo basin , while lophocebus aterrimus opdenboschi occurs in south - western democratic republic of the congoand north - eastern angola ( 1 ) .
female black - crested mangabeys emit signs of being ready to breed to their male counterparts during estrus , when their buttocks region swells and takes on a pinkish hue .
along with habitat loss and destruction , the black - crested mangabey is also naturally threatened by predators , serving in the food chain for leopards , large birds like crowned eagles , and humans who hunt them for the bush - meat trade .
the black crested mangabey lives in multi - male , multi - female troops of 9 to 16 individuals ( 4 ) . each troop inhabits a home range of approximately 48 to 70 hectares , which may overlap with the range of other troops ( 4 ) .
the black crested mangabey is also found in the lomako - yokokala faunal reserve in the democratic republic of the congo ( 1 ) , an area created in 2006 to conserve an important population of bonobos ( pan paniscus ) and numerous other species ( 20 ) .
the zoo tv series : baby white crowned mangabey hand reared in dublin zoo . mp4
horn , a . d . ( 1987 ) the socioecology of the black mangabey ( cercocebus aterrimus ) near lake tumba , zaire . american journal of primatology , 12 : 165 - 180 .
the black - crested mangabeys’ genus name , “lophocebus , ” means
crest monkey
in greek .  locals have referred to them as ‘baboon - mangabeys , ’ since they resemble the baboon species .
since the black crested mangabey does not have the contrasting , bright eyelids which are used as social signals by other mangabey species , it relies on a series of calls for communication ( 9 ) . the distinct ‘whoop - gobble’ call can be heard from a distance of one kilometre and is used by sexually mature males to maintain distance between groups . the ‘whoop’ functions as a signal for others to listen and the ‘gobble’ is specific to each individual , showing their location in the forest ( 10 ) . a variety of nasal grunts are used to indicate when the group starts to move , and the male black crested mangabey also emits grunts to greet and comfort juveniles ( 10 ) .
the zoo said that a young mangabey will cling to its mom ' s abdomen as she moves around .
the long tail of the golden - bellied mangabey , like other old world monkeys , is not prehensile .
the black crested mangabey occurs in the salonga national park in the democratic republic of the congo ( 1 ) , an area where the united nations educational , scientific and cultural organization ( unesco ) and united nations foundation ( unf ) are working to preserve the forest and its wildlife by training and motivating staff to protect the park ( 19 ) .
the black crested mangabey’s diet consists primarily of fruit and seeds , although it may also feed on some flowers , young leaves , nectar and bark ( 1 ) ( 14 ) . small animal prey , such as insects , may also be occasionally eaten ( 4 ) ( 14 ) . all mangabey species have large incisors to bite into fruit and flat molars which help to crack open and crush hard seeds ( 15 ) . mangabeys also have large food pouches in the cheeks , used to store food ( 5 ) .
the salonga national park in the democratic republic of the congo , is an area where the united nations educational , scientific and cultural organization ( unesco ) and united nations foundation ( unf ) works to preserve the forest and its inhabitants , including their population of black - crested mangabeys .
the unregulated and often illegal extraction of timber from the congo basin is probably the greatest threat to the black crested mangabey , as an unrelenting demand for timber from around the world drives the destruction of this primate’s habitat ( 1 ) ( 14 ) ( 17 ) . the threat of logging is compounded by a growing human population in the region , causing an increase in land converted for cultivation ( 17 ) .
a highly arboreal monkey ( 6 ) ( 11 ) , the black crested mangabey typically forages in the middle and upper canopy , 12 to 30 metres off the ground ( 4 ) . mangabeys are able to jump up to five metres between trees as they forage ( 4 ) , but may also occasionally venture down to the forest floor in search of food ( 12 ) . most foraging takes place in the morning ( 13 ) .
mangabeys , like this one grooming another golden - bellied mangabey ' s back , move through the forest by day , traveling in troops .
being highly social creatures , the nature of the black - crested mangabey is known as non - aggressive and friendly . since they are mostly tree dwellers , or arboreal by nature , they are considered to be excellent jumpers , and will very seldom descend to the forest grounds . this species is also known to be diurnal , which means their foraging activity is concentrated during the daytime . they use a locomotion known as arboreal quadrupedalism , where they move through branches horizontally , and at a rapid pace , on all four of their limbs .
 diet the diet of a black - crested mangabey includes primarily vegetative substances , like fruit , nuts , seeds , leaves and flowers . nectar is also sometimes an important food source during some months , along with maize or sweet potatoes from neighboring crops . their large incisors and flat molars allow them to crack open hard seeds or nuts , and bite into fruit and that’s far too tough - skinned for other primates . they will also sometimes use their teeth to rip off the bark on trees , allowing them to feed upon insects and spiders living underneath .
taxonomists have put mangabeys into two separate genera based on physical differences : white - eyelid mangabeys ( cercocebus species ) and crested mangabeys ( lophocebus species ) which have dark skin and eyelids and crests of hair on their heads . in 2006 , a third genera was added : rungwecebus , for the highland mangabey , which is the first new primate genus in 83 years .
 ecological role dispersing seeds around the forest is one of the main ecological roles that black - crested mangabeys play in helping to regrow the forests that they occupy . they have also been seen to toss fruit to the ground after taking a single bite , which inadvertently , serves as a source of food for some other species . pollination may also occur as a result of their consumption of nectar .
black - crested mangabeys are classified as near threatened ( nt ) on the iucn red list and listed on appendix ii of convention of international trade in endangered species ( cites ) . one of the greatest threats to this species is the illegal and unregulated uprooting of timber from the congo basin . as the human population continues to expand in that area , the need for land converted for human logging becomes even greater , thus diminishing the homes of these creatures .
the mangabey was named for what europeans thought was their homeland . the first shipment of these primates was labeled as coming from mangabe , a port in madagascar , but there are no mangabeys native to madagascar .
white - eyelid mangabeys are most closely related to mandrills and drills , and the males are much larger than the females . crested mangabeys are more closely related to baboons and geladas , and both males and females are about the same size .
people continue to destroy mangabey habitat by logging the trees in their forest homes and hunting the monkeys illegally for bushmeat . and because mangabeys are such fruit lovers , they tend to raid fruit plantations and are often killed as pests .
mangabeys can be golden brown , gray , dark brown , or a soft black , depending on the species or subspecies , usually with a lighter color on the underbelly . youngsters are generally darker than the adults . white - collared mangabeys have reddish hair on their head , a
beard
on each cheek , and white hair that wraps around their neck like a collar ( hence the name ! ) . black mangabeys have long , grayish brown whiskers that almost cover their ears and a high crest on their head—a pointy hairdo !
these large forest dwellers are found only in africa . they look somewhat like guenons but are bigger . local people call some of them
the ones with the thin waist
or
four - eyed monkeys ,
because some mangabey species have bright white eyelids .
including ( over ) hunting and habitat loss . many mangabey populations are severely limited in population size and areas of inhabited forest . along with other large primates such as chimpanzees and gorillas , these monkeys are among the first of the larger mammals to disappear from forests close to human settlements .
when a male becomes sexually mature , he leaves his troop to find another one to join . if he can ' t find one , he lives alone until he does ; single males do not form all - male groups . when there is plenty of food available , mangabey troops often gather together for a while and even exchange troop members .
mangabeys have some interesting ways of communicating with each other . it ' s often hard to see one another in the dense forest canopy , so sound is very important . in fact , mangabeys can be very noisy ! a special throat sac gives them a booming voice . the sac is larger in the adult male—he can make shrieking alarm calls to alert others to danger , and he barks , twitters , and grunts to let other mangabey groups in the area know where his is so they don ' t accidentally intrude . the adult females often join in with a loud chorus .
much like baboons , a female mangabey ' s buttocks swell when she is ready to breed . this is her visual signal to the adult males . a single infant is born with soft fur , and its eyes are open . its instinct to grasp onto its mother is so strong that it often grabs at the mother ' s hair with its hands as it ' s being born ! newborns cling to the mother ' s belly ; older infants often ride on her back . young are weaned when 7 to 10 months old , but stay near their mother until she gives birth to a new sibling . mature females stay with their troop , but males leave the group when they are about five years old .
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wilson and reeder ' s mammal species of the world is the classic reference book on the taxonomic classification and distribution of the more than 5400 species of mammals that exist today . the third edition includes detailed information on nomenclature and , for the first time , common names . each concise entry covers type locality , distribution , synonyms , and major reference sources . the systematic arrangement of
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wilson and reeder ' s mammal species of the world is the classic reference book on the taxonomic classification and distribution of the more than 5400 species of mammals that exist today . the third edition includes detailed information on nomenclature and , for the first time , common names . each concise entry covers type locality , distribution , synonyms , and major reference sources . the systematic arrangement of information indicates evolutionary relationships at both the ordinal and the family level . this indispensable reference work belongs in public and academic libraries throughout the world and on the shelf of every biologist who works with mammals .
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kingdon , j . ( 1997 ) the kingdon field guide to african mammals . academic press , london .
rowe , n . ( 1996 ) the pictorial guide to the living primates . pogonia press , rhode island .
macdonald , d . w . ( 2006 ) the new encyclopedia of mammals . oxford university press , oxford .
groves , c . ( 2001 ) primate taxonomy . smithsonian institution press , washington d . c .
field , l . p . ( 2003 ) mangabeys : cercocebus and lophocebus . north american regional studbook . sacramento zoo , sacramento .
estes , r . d . ( 1991 ) the behavior guide to african mammals . university of california press : california .
dunbar , r . and barrett , l . ( 2000 ) cousins . bbc worldwide , london .
lee , p . c . , thornback , j . and bennett , e . l . ( 1988 ) threatened primates of africa . the iucn red data book . iucn , gland , switzerland and cambridge .
strier , k . b . ( 2000 ) primate behavioural ecology . allyn & bacon , boston .
nowak , r . m . ( 1999 ) primates of the world . the john hopkins university press , baltimore , maryland .
african wildlife foundation ( 2006 ) a big win for conservation in drc - lomako yokokala faunal reserve officially gazetted . awf , 14 july . available at : urltoken
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grubb et al . ( 2003 ) recognized two subspecies , l . a . aterrimus and l . a . opdenboschi , in contrast to groves ( 2001 , 2005 ) who considered the two as worthy of recognition as distinct species .
justification : listed as near threatened in view of the intensifying hunting pressure for the bushmeat trade with additional pressure from habitat loss , which is believed to have resulted in a decline in the order of 20 - 25 % over the past ~ 27 years . almost qualifies as threatened under criterion a2d .
this species is found south of the congo river in the democratic republic of the congo , in rainforest in lowland areas of the south - west congo basin and into angola ( gautier - hion et al . 1999 ) . there are two subspecies ( following grubb et al . 2003 ) : l . a . aterrimus is found in the central congo basin ; l . a . opdenboschi is found in north - eastern angola and south - western democratic republic of the congo .
although widespread , its population size is not really known and further details are needed . densities of 70 individuals / km² have been recorded in some localities .
this species is found in primary and secondary moist forests . in salonga national park , it has been observed in swamp forests , but does not occupy swamp in lomako ( mcgraw 1994 ) . it utilizes all forest levels ( especially the middle canopy layers ) , but seldom descends to the ground ( horn 1987 ; mcgraw 1994 ) . its diet consists largely of fruits and seeds , with high rates of nectarivory in some months of the year in salonga ; foraging activity is concentrated in the early morning ( horn 1987 ; mcgraw 1994 ; gautier - hion and maisels 1994 ) .
little is known about the status of this species . however , it is subject to intensive , uncontrolled hunting for its meat in most parts of the range , and it is also vulnerable to loss of forest habitat .
this species is listed on appendix ii of cites and as class b according to the african convention . it is present in salonga national park , lukuru community reservation and the proposed lomako conservation area .
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) , to whom they are believed to have diverged from only about four million years ago .
diurnal : foraging for food is done in the early morning or daylight hours .
primary rainforest : rainforest that has remained undisturbed for a long time and has reached a mature condition .
secondary rainforest : rainforest that has re - grown after a major disturbance , such as fire or timber harvest , but has not yet reached the mature state of primary rainforest .
philopatric : tending to return to or remain near a particular site or area .
estrus : a recurring period of sexual receptivity and fertility in many female mammals .
males of this species often times leave their natal groups , while females are conversely philopatric , and remain in their natal groups as central figures . smaller groups are sometimes formed that split off from the main group or troop .
living in a multi - male , multi - female group of 9 to 16 individuals , each groups’ home range may overlap with the home range of another group , as they can occupy a range of 118 to 173 acres ( 47 to 70 hectares ) of land each .
the wet seasons in july and august are when females typically give birth . the gestation period lasts for a period of 5 ½ to 6 months , resulting in a birth of a single offspring . babies - who can weigh anywhere between 1 . 1 to 1 . 3lbs ( 18 to 21oz ) , cling to their mothers’ bellies , and ride on their mothers’ backs when juveniles .
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if you ' re looking for something to do this weekend , you might want to head to the brookfield zoo to meet the newest arrival .
if you ' re lucky , you ' ll be able to see zingo in the tropic world : africa exhibit . the mangabeys have access to the habitat on a rotation basis with the colobus , another primate species , until the new family gets acclimated and the groups can be introduced to each other .
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all mangabeys have a tail that is longer than their body , providing balance for them as they scamper through the rain forest canopy .
adult male mangabeys also make a sound that biologists call a whoop - gobble . the whoop gets the attention of other mangabeys in the area ; the gobble tells everyone who and where he is . this unique call may be heard for a distance of up to 1 , 000 yards ( 1 kilometer ) .
white is an important color when you need to get your point across . white - collared mangabeys use movements of their white - tipped tails to express themselves . white hair on the underside of the chin helps make other facial gestures more noticeable . for white - eyelid mangabeys , batting their eyelids and raising their eyebrows can have a whole range of meanings . making these facial expressions and flashing their white eyelids against their darker fur help get the message across . flashing eyelids can mean
warning—watch your step !
spending most of their time there . however , white - eyelid mangabeys are also comfortable on the ground , traveling on their hands and feet between patches of forest or to forage in the leaf litter for tasty food items . in some areas of the forest , the ground is swampy , but that’s not a problem for mangabeys . webbing between their fingers and toes helps these amazing monkeys swim !
all mangabeys are excellent jumpers , and gray - cheeked mangabeys and white - collared mangabeys have a tail that is strong enough to hook onto branches as they leap about the forest canopy .
mangabeys are mainly fruit eaters , although they can also eat leaves , nuts , seeds , insects , and spiders . powerful teeth and jaws help them crack hard nut shells or bite into thick - skinned fruits . mangabeys also tear bark from trees using their teeth and hands to find bugs and spiders hiding underneath . large cheek pouches act like a shopping cart : mangabeys fill their pouches with food until full ! the biggest meal of the day for mangabeys is breakfast , and they start foraging for food in the early morning , often before the sun comes up .
like many monkey species , mangabeys lick nectar from flowers , moving from tree to tree for this sweet feast , earning them status as pollinators as well as seed dispersers .
at the san diego zoo , the mangabeys are offered low - starch , high - fiber biscuits , assorted fruits ( such as apples , grapes , melons ) , vegetables ( green beans , corn , eggplant ) , and greens ( cabbage , lettuce , kale ) . enrichment treats can include raisins , popcorn , and peanuts .
, depending on the species and the availability of food and habitat . there is usually one adult male that acts as leader and the troop ' s defender , but sometimes the larger troops have two or three adult males that split off with their own family units to forage for food .
the association of zoos and aquariums has a species survival plan ( ssp ) for mangabeys which helps to maintain genetic diversity in zoo populations ; the ssp works with various zoos to help them care for these primates . san diego zoo global is involved in the ssp effort to protect these forest monkeys from extinction .
you can help us bring mangabeys and other primate species back from the brink by supporting the san diego zoo global wildlife conservancy . together we can save and protect wildlife around the globe .