Fun Grivet Facts For Kids

A grivet (Chlorocebus aethiops) is an Old World monkey that is found in some sub-Saharan countries of Africa. These grivet monkeys cross range with a closely related species of monkey called the vervet monkey in the southern part of their range.

Although they are common within their restricted range in Africa, very little is known about these middle-sized black monkeys. The widespread species requires more data regarding population distribution. They are found most abundantly in Ethiopia and Dunbar.

In the past, there are claims that their range extended along the Nile valley up to southern parts of Egypt. However, there are no verified records of grivets from those areas.

They are territorial in nature. Monkeys spend most of their time on the ground and forage on the ground; however, the monkeys are comfortable on trees as well. These monkeys can adapt to any type of habitat ranging from urban developments to rural environments.

However, the groups of grivet monkeys face a few threats in their native regions. These monkeys have commercial importance; therefore, they are hunted on a large scale.

Their population is also threatened by ongoing deforestation and the uncontrolled felling of trees that have affected their habitat negatively. They are also minimally threatened by some of their common predators in the wild although.

If you are in search of interesting grivet facts, keep on reading this article. For more relatable content, check out these colobus monkey facts and spider monkey facts for kids.

Grivet Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a grivet?

A grivet (Chlorocebus aethiops) is a type of monkey.

What class of animal does a grivet belong to?

The grivet monkey (Chlorocebus aethiops) of the primates order and Cercopithecidae family belongs to the class of mammals, the common class for all warm-blooded animals.

How many grivets are there in the world?

The total population of the grivet found all over the world has not been quantified. Currently, the monkey species is believed to follow a stable population pattern without getting threatened by any major factor.

Where does a grivet live?

Grivets are endemic to the northeastern parts of Africa. Currently, these monkeys are found along the east coast of the White Nile, to the south of the Omo River, and east of the rift valley in Ethiopia, parts of southeast and south Sudan, and Eritrea. They are the northernmost primate extending the woolly monkey and capuchin monkeys.

What is a grivet's habitat?

Grivet monkeys ideally prefer to live in savanna woodlands near a water source. They are found in open woodlands, mosaic forest grasslands, and steppes. The presence of a water source near their inhabited lands is a necessity since they need to drink water every day. They are also found in the tablelands of bush steppe forest in the south.

Who do grivets live with?

Grivet monkeys are extremely gregarious animals like the vervet monkey. They live by forming small groups.

The female monkeys live in a single group throughout their life, but males search for new groups when they mature. Like all other primates, grooming plays a considerable role in the social bonds of the grivet monkeys. The number of grivets present in a single group ranges between 6-20 individuals with an average of 12 monkeys.

How long does a grivet live?

The average grivet lifespan is estimated to be 31 years in the wild.

How do they reproduce?

The reproduction process of grivets is similar to the reproduction methods of the vervet monkey. The breeding season of these monkeys lasts from July to November.

The babies are born during the premonsoon season between April to May. Females mate with very few males throughout their lifetime, while males might have several female partners. The breeding males are alerted by the changes in the shape of the reproductive organs of females.

The female genitalia swells during their heat or estrus period. This indicates to males that they are ready to breed.

Grooming and cleaning are also used as courtship strategies by the grivet monkey. Females give birth to one infant after a gestation period of two to three months. The gestation period might last up to six months in some individuals.

Male grivets leave immediately after mating. The babies live with their mothers in their natal group. These groups consist of several females all of them share the responsibility of raising the offspring together.

The babies are weaned six months after they are born. Females reach sexual maturity at four years, while males reach sexual maturity after five years old. Young males leave the natal group after they are sexually mature and search for a new group.

What is their conservation status?

The grivet species of monkey are listed as a species of Least Concern in the IUCN Red List. These monkeys have a moderately large range, and they are distributed widely throughout their range. This shows that they have a more or less stable population without the threat of any major threat.

Grivet Fun Facts

What do grivets look like?

The grivet is a mid-sized monkey, like a vervet monkey with a black face and a long tail. They also have black-colored hands and feet.

The back is covered by olive fur, while the front portion of the body has white bristly hairs. The hair on the belly gives off a blue tint. The black face is demarcated from the olive body by a white line of hair just above the eyes.

Long and white whisker-like hairs project outwards from the cheeks. They hold their tail stiff in an upright position.

How cute are they?

These monkeys look very cute.

How do they communicate?

Monkeys generally communicate by visual methods and auditory cues.

How big is a grivet?

The head and body length of the grivet ranges between 16.5-19.3 in (42-49 cm). They are much smaller in length than the howler monkey.

How fast can a grivet move?

Like the related species vervet, a grivet might also travel at speeds up to 30 mph (48.3 kph).

How much does a grivet weigh?

The weight of the grivet ranges between 7.5-17.6 lb (3.4-8 kg).

What are the male and female names of the species?

There is no specific name for a male and female monkey; both are called grivets.

What would you call a baby grivet?

A baby of a monkey is known as an infant.

What do they eat?

Like the green monkeys, they are also carnivorous in nature. The grivet diet includes insects, fruit, small mammals, and birds.

Are they active?

Grivets are generally active during the morning and in the early evening.

Would they make a good pet?

A grivet monkey pet is unusual; they are not generally seen in captivity.

Did you know...

Social hierarchy is demonstrated by the dominating males of the grivet group like all other species of this genus.

Are grivet monkeys dangerous?

Grivet monkeys are not dangerous to human beings in general. They can coexist peacefully without aggression like the green monkeys and also take part in seed dispersal. However, in rural settlements, they form major pests for crops and trees. They mainly raid citrus trees and ground crops.

Is it an Old World monkey?

The grivet is an Old-World species. Their range is restricted to the northeastern forest of Africa. These monkeys have a very limited range and are mainly found in Ethiopia, Djibouti, Sudan, and Eritrea. In the southern part of their range, they coexist with their vervet relatives.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these patas monkey interesting facts and squirrel monkey fun facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable monkey coloring pages.