The evolution of the Cercopithecini: a (post)modern synthesis

Abstract

The Cercopithecini, or African guenon monkeys, are one of the most diverse clades of living primates, and comprise the most species-rich clade of Catarrhini. Species identity is announced by flamboyant coloration of the facial and genital regions and, more cryptically, by vigorous chromosomal rearrangements among taxa. Beneath the skin, however, these animals are skeletally conservative between congeneric species. The guenons clearly demonstrate that morphological, cytogenetic, and reproductive differentiation proceed at different rates during speciation. We review diverse kinds of data in the effort to understand this conundrum