The Talapoin is the smallest monkey in Africa and is native to western Central Africa. Its head/body
length is some 35-45cm with a tail of some 40-50cm.
There are two species, the Gabon or Northern Talapoin, shown here, which has pinker face and ears, and the similar the Angola
or Southern Talapoin (M. talapoin), see link below, with more grey on the face and black on the ears.
The "Gabon" Talapoin, described by science only in 1997, is native to Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and the Congos
as well as Gabon. They are intelligent and communicative with varied calls and gestures.
Talapoins live in large, mixed-gender groups. Although tree-dwelling, like Allen's Swamp Monkey, they like to live
near water and can swim well to evade predators or seek food.
"The call's for you"
"Are you going to pick up the phone?"
"No, I'm busy fixing this."
The Northern Talapoin is near threatened with population declines largely due to hunting and trapping by people.