The Vervet is native to eastern Africa from East Africa to eastern South Africa.
It is closely related to the similar Grivet, Malbrouck, Tantalus and Green (Sabaeus) monkeys, which are sometimes treated
as subspecies and sometimes as separate species in the Chlorocebus genus. They were all previously called
Cercopithecus aethiops and the name Vervet or African Green was used for the whole species.
Even now the name Vervet is often used for Chlorocebus aethiops and the Grivet treated as subspecies
C. a. aethiops while the Vervet is C. a. pygerythrus.
Vervets are slightly greyer (less brown) than Grivets and Tantalus.
The Bale Mountains Vervet (C. djamdjamensis) from Ethiopia has longer, darker fur, a big white beard and no white brow.
Other species (former subspecies) of Chlorocebus are native to west, central and southwest Africa.
("Vervets" including Grivets/others have also been introduced to Caribbean islands.)