FOOD-HABITS OF GUENONS (CERCOPITHECUS SPP) IN AFRO-MONTANE FOREST

The diet and feeding behaviour of Cercopithecus preussi in montane for est on Kilum Mountain, Cameroon, was studied over a period of 15 month s and compared with that of Cercopithecus mitis observed over a simila r period in montane forest on the Zomba Plateau, Malawi. Cercopithecus preussi was found to eat fruit with a similar frequency to C. mitis, but to eat mature tree leaves less often. When the frequency of total green plant intake was compared, however, C. preussi ate this category more often than C. mitis. This may reflect the raised foliar protein levels at Kilum, a longer rainy season increasing the availability of preferred food items and the greater terrestriality of C. preussi, bri nging it into contact with more herb leaf blades. Both C. preussi and C. mitis eat the blades of mature tree leaves relatively rarely, prefe rring leaf shoots (C. preussi) and leaf petioles (C. mitis).