Editing Vervet monkey (section)

{{Short description|Species of Old World monkey}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Vervet monkey<ref name=msw3>{{MSW3 Groves|pages=159|id=12100508|heading=''Chlorocebus pygerythrus''}}</ref>
| image = Cercopiteco verde (Chlorocebus pygerythrus), parque nacional del lago Nakuru, Kenia, 2024-05-18, DD 77.jpg
| image_caption = Adult male vervet monkey
| image2 = Vervet_Monkey_(Chlorocebus_pygerythrus)_(W_CERCOPITHECUS_AETHIOPS_R2_C2).ogg
| image2_caption = Calls recorded at [[Lake Naivasha]], Kenya
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name=iucn>{{cite iucn |author=Butynski, T.M. |author2=De Jong, Y.A. |year=2022 |title=''Chlorocebus pygerythrus'' |volume=2022 |page=e.T136271A205998680 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T136271A205998680.en |access-date=18 November 2024}}</ref>
| genus = Chlorocebus
| species = pygerythrus
| authority = [[Frédéric Cuvier|F. Cuvier]], 1821
| range_map = Vervet monkey (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) IUCN range 2022.svg
| range_map_caption = IUCN distribution (2022)
{{leftlegend|#2979b9|''C. p. rufoviridis''}}
{{leftlegend|#57a2cc|''C. p. hilgerti''}}
{{leftlegend|#73b2d8|''C. p. pygerythrus''}}
{{leftlegend|#c8dcf0|''C. p. nesiotes''}}
{{leftlegend|#08306b|''C. p. zavattarii''}}
}}

The '''vervet monkey''' ('''''Chlorocebus pygerythrus'''''), or simply '''vervet''', is an [[Old World monkey]] of the family [[Cercopithecidae]] native to [[Africa]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vervet Monkey (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) |url=https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/68137-Chlorocebus-pygerythrus |access-date=2023-06-06 |website=iNaturalist |language=en}}</ref> The term "vervet" is also used to refer to all the members of the genus ''[[Chlorocebus]]''. The five distinct subspecies can be found mostly throughout Southern Africa, as well as some of the eastern countries. These mostly herbivorous monkeys have black faces and grey body hair color, ranging in body length from about {{convert|40|cm|abbr=on}} for females, to about {{convert|50|cm|abbr=on}} for males.

In addition to behavioral research on natural populations, vervet monkeys serve as a nonhuman primate model for understanding genetic and social behaviors of humans. They have been noted for having human-like characteristics, such as [[hypertension]], [[anxiety]], and social and dependent [[Recreational drug use in animals#Vervet monkeys|alcohol use]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Palmour |first1=R. |last2=Mulligan |first2=J. |last3=Howbert |first3 = J. J. |last4=Ervin |first4=F. |title=Of monkeys and men: vervets and the genetics of human-like behaviors |journal=[[American Journal of Human Genetics]] |pages=481–488 |year=1997 |volume=61 |doi=10.1086/515526 |issue=3 |pmc=1715973 |pmid=9326311}}</ref> Vervets live in social groups ranging from 10 to 70 individuals, with males moving to other groups at the time of [[sexual maturity]]. Studies done on vervet monkeys involve their communication and alarm calls, specifically in regard to kin and group recognition, and particular predator sightings.