Aïr Patas Monkey (Erythrocebus patas villiersi) - THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™

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The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2022. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/205893280/205893339

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The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™
ISSN 2307-8235 (online)
IUCN 2022: T205893280A205893339
Scope(s): Global
Language: English
Erythrocebus patas ssp. villiersi, Aïr Patas Monkey
Assessment by: De Jong, Y.A. & Butynski, T.M.
View on www.iucnredlist.org
Citation: De Jong, Y.A. & Butynski, T.M. 2022. Erythrocebus patas ssp. villiersi. The IUCN Red List of
Threatened Species 2022: e.T205893280A205893339. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-
1.RLTS.T205893280A205893339.en
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THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™

Taxonomy
Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family
Animalia Chordata Mammalia Primates Cercopithecidae
Scientific Name:ÊÊErythrocebus patas ssp. villiersi Dekeyser, 1950
Parent Species:ÊÊSee Erythrocebus patas
Common Name(s):
• English: Aïr Patas Monkey, Aïr Red Monkey
Taxonomic Notes:
At least 19 taxa have been described within Erythrocebus, the most recent being the Aïr Patas Monkey
Erythrocebus patas villiersi Dekeyser, 1950, an isolated subspecies endemic to the Aïr Massif, central
northern Niger.
Erythrocebus. p. villiersi is not recognized by Kingdon (1997), Groves (2001), Grubb et al. (2003), Kingdon
et al. (2008), or Isbell (2013). Recognized by Hill (1966), Napier and Napier (1967), Dandelot (1974), De
Jong et al. (2020), Cardini et al. (2021), and De Jong and Butynski (2021).
Erythrocebus p. villiersi is said to have a smaller body, as well as some dental and cranial differences,
compared to western Patas Monkey E. p. patas (Dekeyser 1950, Hall 1966), but this opinion is based on
only one adult male specimen. A taxonomic review of this genus is long overdue.
Assessment Information
Red List Category & Criteria: Data Deficient ver 3.1
Year Published: 2022
Date Assessed: February 27, 2022
Justification:
Aïr Patas Monkey (Erythrocebus patas villiersi) is assessed as Data Deficient as its geographic
distribution, abundance, natural history, threats, and conservation status are poorly-known. The habitat
of E. p. villiersi continues to be degraded, lost, and fragmented. Persecuted in response to crop-raiding
(Dekeyser 1950). Hunting and loss of perennial water sources are likely to be additional threats. A field
survey is urgently needed to assess its geographic distribution, abundance, threats, conservation status
and, if necessary, priorities for conservation.
Geographic Range
Range Description:
Isolated and endemic to the Aïr Massif, central northern Niger (Dekeyser 1950). Geographic limits are
poorly known. Presumably patchily distributed mainly in the larger valleys in the south of the Aïr Massif
and north of the bend of the Niger River (Dekeyser 1950, Dekeyser and Derivot 1959 in Masseti and
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Erythrocebus patas ssp. villiersi – published in 2022.
https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T205893280A205893339.en
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Bruner 2009). Known altitudinal range is from 600 m asl (Dahaga) to 1,600 m asl (Baguezans Plateau;
Dekeyser 1950).
Country Occurrence:
Native, Extant (resident): Niger
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Erythrocebus patas ssp. villiersi – published in 2022.
https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T205893280A205893339.en
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Distribution Map
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Erythrocebus patas ssp. villiersi – published in 2022.
https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T205893280A205893339.en
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Population
Erythrocebus p. villiersi is said to be common throughout the region of the Aïr Massif (Dekeyser 1950; J.
Darbey, T. Rabeil, and T. Wacher pers. comm. 2019). Magin (1990, in UNEP 2017) estimated that there
were 500 E. p. villiersi in the central massifs and plateau of the Aïr Massif. Field surveys are required to
assess current population size.
Current Population Trend:ÊÊUnknown
Habitat and Ecology (see Appendix for additional information)
Occupies sub-desertic grassland, sparse acacia woodland, and bushland (Dekeyser 1950, S. Turner pers.
comm. 2016). Presumably limited by the distribution of perennial water sources. Lives in drier and
rockier areas than other Erythrocebus taxa.
Ecology, behaviour, and natural history have not been studied but are expected to be very similar to that
of other taxa within Erythrocebus (Hall 1965, Chism & Rowell 1988, Nakagawa 1999, Oates 2011, Isbell
2013).
Sympatric with, and likely in competition with, olive baboons (Papio anubis).
Systems:ÊÊTerrestrial
Use and Trade (see Appendix for additional information)
Threats (see Appendix for additional information)
Wildlife in the region, presumably including E. p. villiersi are threatened by the effects of civil war,
insecurity, poaching, agricultural expansion, over-grazing, over-browsing, gold panning, increasing
aridity, lowering of the water table, invasive species (especially Prosopis juliflora), and lack of
environmental protection (Mortimore 1972, Anthelme et al. 2006, 2008, UNESCO 2016, UNEP 2017,
Anonymous 2018). Erythrocebus patas needs to drink daily. It is highly likely that access to sources of
perennial water is threatening E. p. villiersi and that some perennial water sources have been lost due to
factors related to the degradation of the environment. Competition with people, livestock, and other
wildlife (including P. anubis) over food and water is expected to be severe.
Erythrocebus p. villiersi causes damage to maize and date plantations (Dekeyser 1950) and is probably
persecuted in response.All threats are related to the rapid growth of the human population in Niger. The
human population of Niger is one of the fastest growing in the world with a 3.8% annual growth rate
(World Bank 2022). ‘Rate of Natural Increase’ of the human population in Niger is 3.7%, compared to a
worldwide rate of 1.1% (PRB 2021).
Conservation Actions (see Appendix for additional information)
Erythrocebus p. villiersi occurs in the Aïr and Ténéré Natural Reserves (77,360 km²) which cover the
eastern half of the Aïr Mountains and western extent the Ténéré Desert. Wildlife in the region,
presumably including E. p. villiersi, are threatened by insecurity (civil war), poaching, agricultural
expansion, over-grazing, over-browsing, extraction of wood, invasive species, gold panning, erosion,
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Erythrocebus patas ssp. villiersi – published in 2022.
https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T205893280A205893339.en
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drop in the water table, and increasing aridity (Mortimore 1972, Anthelme 2006, 2008, UNESCO 2016,
UNEP 2017, Anonymous 2018).
Credits
Assessor(s): De Jong, Y.A. & Butynski, T.M.
Reviewer(s): Reuter, K.E.
Contributor(s): Kingdon, J. & Rylands, A.B.
Authority/Authorities: IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Erythrocebus patas ssp. villiersi – published in 2022.
https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T205893280A205893339.en
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Bibliography
Anonymous. 2018. Rapport de Visite de la RNC du Mont Egalagh. Département d’Iférouane, Région
d’Agadez, Niger.
Anthelme, F., de Boissieu, D. and Waziri Mato, M. 2006. Dégradation des ressources végétales au
contact des activités humaines et perspectives de conservation dans le massif de l'Aïr (Sahara, Niger).
Vertigo 7: 1-12.
Anthelme, F., Waziri Mato, M. and Maley, J. 2008. Elevation and local refuges ensure persistence of
mountain specific vegetation in the Nigerien Sahara. Journal of Arid Environments 72(12): 2232-2242.
Cardini, A., De Jong, Y.A. and Butynski, T.M. 2021. Can morphotaxa be assessed with photographs?
Estimating the accuracy of two-dimensional cranial geometric morphometrics for the study of
threatened populations of African monkeys. The Anatomical Record 2021: 1-33.
Chism, J. and Rowell, T.E. 1988. The natural history of patas monkeys. Cambridge University Press.
Dandelot, P. 1974. Order Primates. Part III. In: J. Meester and H.W. Setzer (eds), The Mammals of Africa:
An Identfication Manual, pp. 1-45. Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC.
De Jong, Y.A. and Butynski, T.M. 2021. Is the southern patas monkey Erythrocebus baumstarki Africa's
next primate extinction? Reassessing geographic distribution, abundance, and conservation. American
Journal of Primatology 83(10): https://doi.org/10.1002/ajp.23316.
De Jong, Y.A., Rylands, A.R. and Butynski, T.M. 2020. Erythrocebus patas. Available at:
https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/174391079/17940998.
Dekeyser, P.L. 1950. Contributions à l’étude de l’Aïr. Mammifères. Mémoire Institute Francoise Afrique
Noire 10: 388-425.
Dekeyser P.-L. and Derivot J. 1959. La Vie Animale au Sahara. Librairie Armand Colin, Paris, France.
Groves C.P. 2001. Primate Taxonomy. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC, USA.
Grubb, P., Butynski, T.M., Oates, J.F., Bearder, S.K., Disotell, T.R., Groves, C.P. and Struhsaker, T.T. 2003.
Assessment of the diversity of African primates. International Journal of Primatology 24(6): 1301-1357.
Hall, K.R.L. 1965. Behavior and ecology of the wild patas monkey (Erythrocebus patas) in Uganda.
Journal of Zoology 148: 15-87.
Hill, W.C.O. 1966. Primates: Comparative Anatomy and Taxonomy VI: Catarrhini Cercopithecoida
Cercopithecinae. Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, Scotland.
Isbell, L.A. 2013. Erythrocebus patas Patas Monkey (Hussar Monkey, Nisnas). In: T.M. Butynski, J.
Kingdon and J. Kalina (eds), The Mammals of Africa. Volume II: Primates, pp. 257-264. Bloomsbury
Publishing, London.
IUCN. 2022. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2022-1. Available at: www.iucnredlist.org.
(Accessed: 21 July 2022).
Kingdon, J. 1997. The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals. Academic Press, San Diego, California,
USA.
Kingdon, J., Butynski, T.M. and De Jong, Y.A. 2008. Erythrocebus patas. The IUCN Red List of Threatened
Species 2008(e.T8073A12884516).
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Erythrocebus patas ssp. villiersi – published in 2022.
https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T205893280A205893339.en
6

Magin C. D. 1990. The status of wildlife populations in the Ai’r and Tenere National Nature Reserve,
1988-90. Serie des Rapports Techniques. IUCN / WWF, Niamey, Niger.
Masseti, M. and Bruner, E. 2009. The primates of the western Palaearctic: a biogeographical, historical,
and archaeozoological review. Journal of Anthropological Sciences 87: 33-91.
Mortimore, M.J. 1972. The changing resources of sedentary communities in Air, southern Sahara.
Geographical Review 62(1): 71-91.
Nakagawa, N. 1999. Differential habitat utilization by patas monkeys (Erythrocebus patas) and tantalus
monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops tantalus) living sympatrically in northern Cameroon. American Journal
of Primatology 49: 243-264.
Napier, J. R. and Napier, P. H. 1967. A Handbook of Living Primates. Academic Press, London, UK.
Oates, J.F. 2011. Primates of West Africa: A Field Guide and Natural History. Conservation International,
Arlington, VA.
PRB. 2021. World Population Data 2021, Africa. Washington, DC., USA. Available at: www.prb.org.
UNEP. 2017. Aïr and Ténéré Natural Reserves. Cambridge, UK. International Union for Conservation of
Nature and UN Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Available at:
http://www.yichuans.me/datasheet/output/site/air-and-tenere-natural-reserves/.
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Citation
De Jong, Y.A. & Butynski, T.M. 2022. Erythrocebus patas ssp. villiersi. The IUCN Red List of Threatened
Species 2022: e.T205893280A205893339. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-
1.RLTS.T205893280A205893339.en
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To make use of this information, please check the Terms of Use.
External Resources
For Supplementary Material, and for Images and External Links to Additional Information, please see the
Red List website.
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Erythrocebus patas ssp. villiersi – published in 2022.
https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T205893280A205893339.en
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Appendix
Habitats
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Habitat Season Suitability Major
Importance?
2. Savanna -> 2.1. Savanna - Dry Resident Suitable Yes
14. Artificial/Terrestrial -> 14.3. Artificial/Terrestrial - Plantations Passage Marginal -
Threats
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Impact Score
2. Agriculture & aquaculture -> 2.1. Annual &
perennial non-timber crops -> 2.1.2. Small-holder
farming
Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion
1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation
2. Agriculture & aquaculture -> 2.3. Livestock farming
& ranching -> 2.3.2. Small-holder grazing, ranching or
farming
Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion
1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation
5. Biological resource use -> 5.1. Hunting & trapping
terrestrial animals -> 5.1.3. Persecution/control
Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
Stresses: 2. Species Stresses -> 2.1. Species mortality
5. Biological resource use -> 5.3. Logging & wood
harvesting -> 5.3.5. Motivation
Unknown/Unrecorded
Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation
Conservation Actions in Place
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Conservation Action in Place
In-place land/water protection
Conservation sites identified: Yes, over part of range
Occurs in at least one protected area: Yes
In-place education
Included in international legislation: Yes
Subject to any international management / trade controls: Yes
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Erythrocebus patas ssp. villiersi – published in 2022.
https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T205893280A205893339.en
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Conservation Actions Needed
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Conservation Action Needed
1. Land/water protection -> 1.1. Site/area protection
1. Land/water protection -> 1.2. Resource & habitat protection
2. Land/water management -> 2.1. Site/area management
4. Education & awareness -> 4.3. Awareness & communications
5. Law & policy -> 5.1. Legislation -> 5.1.2. National level
5. Law & policy -> 5.1. Legislation -> 5.1.3. Sub-national level
Research Needed
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Research Needed
1. Research -> 1.1. Taxonomy
1. Research -> 1.2. Population size, distribution & trends
1. Research -> 1.3. Life history & ecology
1. Research -> 1.4. Harvest, use & livelihoods
1. Research -> 1.5. Threats
1. Research -> 1.6. Actions
2. Conservation Planning -> 2.1. Species Action/Recovery Plan
2. Conservation Planning -> 2.2. Area-based Management Plan
3. Monitoring -> 3.1. Population trends
3. Monitoring -> 3.4. Habitat trends
Additional Data Fields
Distribution
Continuing decline in area of occupancy (AOO): Unknown
Extreme fluctuations in area of occupancy (AOO): Unknown
Continuing decline in extent of occurrence (EOO): Unknown
Extreme fluctuations in extent of occurrence (EOO): Unknown
Lower elevation limit (m): 600
Upper elevation limit (m): 1,600
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Erythrocebus patas ssp. villiersi – published in 2022.
https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T205893280A205893339.en
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Population
Continuing decline of mature individuals: Unknown
Extreme fluctuations: Unknown
Habitats and Ecology
Continuing decline in area, extent and/or quality of habitat: Unknown
Movement patterns: Not a Migrant
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Erythrocebus patas ssp. villiersi – published in 2022.
https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T205893280A205893339.en
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The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™
ISSN 2307-8235 (online)
IUCN 2022: T205893280A205893339
Scope(s): Global
Language: English
The IUCN Red List Partnership
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is produced and managed by the IUCN Global Species
Programme, the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) and The IUCN Red List Partnership.
The IUCN Red List Partners are: ABQ BioPark; Arizona State University; BirdLife International; Botanic
Gardens Conservation International; Conservation International; Missouri Botanical Garden;
NatureServe; Re:wild; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Sapienza University of Rome; Texas A&M University;
and Zoological Society of London.
THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Erythrocebus patas ssp. villiersi – published in 2022.
https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T205893280A205893339.en
11