On the taxonomy of Erythrocebus with a Re-evaluation of Erythrocebus poliophaeus (Reichenbach, 1862) from the blue nile region of Sudan and Ethiopia

摘要

Erythrocebus taxonomy has been dormant for almost a century now, with the consequent costs in our understanding of the biology of the genus and for the conservation of these remarkable monkeys. New data on the distribution and physical appearance of patas monkeys in Ethiopia, together with a review of the old taxonomic literature, allows to us disentangle some questions concerning the taxonomy of Erythrocebus in northeast Africa. Specifically, I resurrect Erythrocebus poliophaeus (Reichenbach, 1862) as a valid species that is found along the Blue Nile Valley at the extreme northeastern portion of the range of the genus. The still little-known, but certainly limited, extent of the range of the species is a cause for conservation concern, but it may be that Erythrocebus poliophaeus could serve as a flagship species for conservation in the biologically rich Western Ethiopian Escarpment region and adjoining Sudan. The proposed common English names for the new species are Heuglin's patas monkey (Heuglin was the famous German explorer who discovered it) or the Blue Nile patas monkey.