Many factors obviously affect primate species richness in a single country, but the most important are habitat diversity, total area of moist forest, and the number of different regionally distinct faunas contained within the country's boundaries; the country's total area is relatively unimportant. Zaire is the African country containing the largest number of primate species (33–34). Zaire is very large, but it also has high habitat diversity (including moist forest, swamp forest, savanna and montane vegetation), and a large area of moist forest; it contains members of four different major regional forest primate faunas (Congo Basin, Eastern Zaire, Western Rift and, in the Mayombe area north of the Congo River's mouth, Western Equatorial). However, Cameroon is only one-fifth the size of Zaire, yet it has almost as many primate species (31), largely as a result of containing two different and very species-rich forest communities to the north and south of the Sanaga River. Equatorial Guinea is only about one-hundredth the size of Zaire, but it still has 22 species; each of its two widely-separated components (the island of Bioko and mainland Rio Muni) falls within a different regional community.
Listed here are the species known to occur in African countries that have at least 10 primate species. Where a species name is shown in parentheses, with a query, we have not been able to locate a reliable published record or museum specimen from that country, but the species is expected to be present on biogeographic grounds. Endemic species (known only from that country) are indicated with an asterisk (*). An (e?) indicates that a species was known in that country within the last 50 years, but may now be extinct. The only species not present in this list is the Barbary macaque (Macaca sylvanus), which is the sole primate species in Morocco and Algeria. The species lists are obviously susceptible to changes in taxonomy; in particular, the number of species in Tanzania may change significantly with revisions in the taxonomy of galagos and red colobus.
(2,345,000 km2, 33–34 species)
Family Lorisidae
Subfamily Lorisinae
(Arctocebus aureus ?)
Perodicticus potto
Subfamily Galaginae
Otolemur crassicaudatus
Galago matschiei
Galago senegalensis
Galago moholi
Galagoides demidoff
Galagoides thomasi
Euoticus elegantulus
Family Cercopithecidae
Subfamily Cercopithecinae
Cercocebus galeritus
Lophocebus albigena
Lophocebus aterrimus
Papio anubis
Papio cynocephalus
Cercopithecus dryas *
Cercopithecus neglectus
Cercopithecus hamlyni
Cercopithecus lhoesti
Cercopithecus mitis
Cercopithecus nictitans
Cercopithecus cephus
Cercopithecus ascanius
Cercopithecus pogonias
Cercopithecus wolfi
Cercopithecus aethiops
Miopithecus talapoin
Allenopithecus nigroviridis
Erythrocebus patas
Subfamily Colobinae
Procolobus badius
Colobus guereza
Colobus angolensis
Family Pongidae
Pan troglodytes
Pan paniscus *
Gorilla gorilla
(475,000 km2, 31 species)
Family Lorisidae
Subfamily Lorisinae
Arctocebus calabarensis
Arctocebus aureus
Perodicticus potto
Subfamily Galaginae
Galago alleni
Galago senegalensis
Galagoides demidoff
Galagoides thomasi
Euoticus elegantulus
Euoticus pallidus
Family Cercopithecidae
Subfamily Cercopithecinae
Cercocebus torquatus
Cercocebus galeritus
Lophocebus albigena
Mandrillus sphinx
Mandrillus leucophaeus
Papio anubis
Cercopithecus neglectus
Cercopithecus preussi
Cercopithecus nictitans
Cercopithecus erythrotis
Cercopithecus cephus
Cercopithecus mona
Cercopithecus pogonias
Cercopithecus aethiops
Miopithecus sp.
Allenopithecus nigroviridis
Erythrocebus patas
Subfamily Colobinae
Procolobus badius
Colobus guereza
Colobus satanas
Family Pongidae
Pan troglodytes
Gorilla gorilla
(924,000 km2, 26 species)
Family Lorisidae
Subfamily Lorisinae
Arctocebus calabarensis
Perodicticus potto
Subfamily Galaginae
Galago alleni
Galago senegalensis
Galagoides demidoff
Galagoides thomasi
Euoticus pallidus
Family Cercopithecidae
Subfamily Cercopithecinae
Cercocebus torquatus
Lophocebus albigena (e?)
Mandrillus leucophaeus
Papio anubis
Cercopithecus preussi
Cercopithecus nictitans
Cercopithecus sclateri
Cercopithecus erythrogaster
Cercopithecus erythrotis
Cercopithecus mona
Cercopithecus pogonias
Cercopithecus aethiops
Erythrocebus patas
Subfamily Colobinae
Procolobus verus
Procolobus badius
Colobus vellerosus
Colobus guereza
Family Pongidae
Pan troglodytes
Gorilla gorilla
(includes Bioko; species only on Bioko designated ‘B’; only on mainland designated ‘M’)
(28,000 km2, 22–23 species)
Family Lorisidae
Subfamily Lorisinae
Arctocebus aureus (M)
Perodicticus potto (M)
Subfamily Galaginae
Galago alleni
Galagoides demidoff
(Galagoides thomasi?) (M)
Euoticus elegantulus (M)
Euoticus pallidus (B)
Family Cercopithecidae
Subfamily Cercopithecinae
Cercocebus torquatus (M)
Cercocebus galeritus (M)
Lophocebus albigena (M)
Mandrillus sphinx (M)
Mandrillus leucophaeus (B)
Cercopithecus neglectus (M)
Cercopithecus preussi (B)
Cercopithecus erythrotis (B)
Cercopithecus cephus (M)
Cercopithecus pogonias
Miopithecus sp. (M)
Subfamily Colobinae
Procolobus badius (B)
Colobus satanas
Family Pongidae
Pan troglodytes (M)
Gorilla gorilla (M)
(342,000 km2, 22 species)
Family Lorisidae
Subfamily Lorisinae
Arctocebus aureus
Perodicticus potto
Subfamily Galaginae
Galago alleni
Galagoides demidoff
Euoticus elegantulus
Family Cercopithecidae
Subfamily Cercopithecinae
Cercocebus torquatus
Cercocebus galeritus
Lophocebus albigena
Papio anubis
Mandrillus sphinx
Cercopithecus neglectus
Cercopithecus nictitans
Cercopithecus cephus
Cercopithecus pogonias
Cercopithecus aethiops
Miopithecus sp.
Allenopithecus nigroviridis
Subfamily Colobinae
Procolobus badius
Colobus guereza
Colobus satanas
Family Pongidae
Pan troglodytes
Gorilla gorilla
(236,000 km2, 20 species)
Family Lorisidae
Subfamily Lorisinae
Perodicticus potto
Subfamily Galaginae
Otolemur crassicaudatus
Galago matschiei
Galago senegalensis
Galagoides demidoff
Galagoides thomasi
Family Cercopithecidae
Subfamily Cercopithecinae
Lophocebus albigena
Papio anubis
Cercopithecus neglectus
Cercopithecus lhoesti
Cercopithecus mitis
Cercopithecus ascanius
Cercopithecus wolfi
Cercopithecus aethiops
Erythrocebus patas
Subfamily Colobinae
Procolobus badius
Colobus guereza
Colobus angolensis
Family Pongidae
Pan troglodytes
Gorilla gorilla
(623,000 km2, 19–20 species)
Family Lorisidae
Subfamily Lorisinae
(Arctocebus aureus?)
Perodicticus potto
Subfamily Galaginae
Galago alleni
Galago senegalensis
Galagoides demidoff
Euoticus elegantulus
Family Cercopithecidae
Subfamily Cercopithecinae
Cercocebus galeritus
Lophocebus albigena
Papio anubis
Cercopithecus neglectus
Cercopithecus nictitans
Cercopithecus cephus
Cercopithecus ascanius
(C. cephus x C. ascanius hybrids)
Cercopithecus pogonias
Cercopithecus aethiops
Erythrocebus patas
Subfamily Colobinae
Procolobus badius
Colobus guereza
Family Pongidae
Pan troglodytes
Gorilla gorilla
(265,000 km2, 19–20 species)
Family Lorisidae
Subfamily Lorisinae
Arctocebus aureus
Perodicticus potto
Subfamily Galaginae
Galago alleni
Galagoides demidoff
(Galagoides thomasi?)
Euoticus elegantulus
Family Cercopithecidae
Subfamily Cercopithecinae
Cercocebus torquatus
Cercocebus galeritus
Lophocebus albigena
Mandrillus sphinx
Cercopithecus neglectus
Cercopithecus solatus *
Cercopithecus nictitans
Cercopithecus cephus
Cercopithecus pogonias
Miopithecus sp.
Subfamily Colobinae
Colobus guereza
Colobus satanas
Family Pongidae
Pan troglodytes
Gorilla gorilla
(945,000 km2, 18–19 species)
Family Lorisidae
Subfamily Galaginae
Otolemur crassicaudatus
Otolemur garnettii
Galago senegalensis
Galago moholi
Galago zanzibaricus
Galago sp. (granti?)
Other galagos?
Family Cercopithecidae
Subfamily Cercopithecinae
Cercocebus galeritus
Papio anubis
Papio cynocephalus
Cercopithecus mitis
Cercopithecus albogularis
Cercopithecus ascanius
Cercopithecus aethiops
Erythrocebus patas
Subfamily Colobinae
Procolobus badius
Colobus guereza
Colobus angolensis
Family Pongidae
Pan troglodytes
including Cabinda (C)
(1,247,000 km2, 18–21 species)
Family Lorisidae
Subfamily Lorisinae
Perodicticus potto
Subfamily Galaginae
Otolemur crassicaudatus
(Galago alleni?) (C)
Galago moholi
Galagoides demidoff
Galagoides thomasi
(Euoticus elegantulus) (C)
Family Cercopithecidae
Subfamily Cercopithecinae
Lophocebus aterrimus
Papio cynocephalus
Papio ursinus
Cercopithecus neglectus
Cercopithecus mitis
Cercopithecus nictitans
Cercopithecus cephus
Cercopithecus ascanius
(Cercopithecus pogonias?) (C)
Cercopithecus wolfi
Cercopithecus aethiops
Miopithecus talapoin
Subfamily Colobinae
Colobus angolensis
Family Pongidae
Gorilla gorilla (C)
(583,000 km2, 18–19 species)
Family Lorisidae
Subfamily Lorisinae
Perodicticus potto
Subfamily Galaginae
Otolemur crassicaudatus
Otolemur garnettii
Galago senegalensis
Galago gallarum
Galago zanzibaricus
(Galagoides thomasi?)
Family Cercopithecidae
Subfamily Cercopithecinae
Cercocebus galeritus
Papio anubis
Papio cynocephalus
Cercopithecus neglectus
Cercopithecus albogularis
Cercopithecus mitis
Cercopithecus ascanius
Cercopithecus aethiops
Erythrocebus patas
Subfamily Colobinae
Procolobus badius
Colobus guereza
Colobus angolensis
(322,000 km2, 16 species)
Family Lorisidae
Subfamily Lorisinae
Perodicticus potto
Subfamily Galaginae
Galago senegalensis
Galagoides demidoff
Family Cercopithecidae
Subfamily Cercopithecinae
Cercocebus atys
Papio anubis
Cercopithecus diana
Cercopithecus nictitans
Cercopithecus petaurista
Cercopithecus campbelli
Cercopithecus aethiops
Erythrocebus patas
Subfamily Colobinae
Procolobus verus
Procolobus badius
Colobus polykomos
Colobus vellerosus
Family Pongidae
Pan troglodytes
26,000 km2, 15–18 species
Family Lorisidae
Subfamily Lorisinae
Perodicticus potto
Subfamily Galaginae
Otolemur crassicaudatus
(Galago matschiei?)
Galago moholi
(Galagoides demidoff?)
(Galagoides thomasi?)
Family Cercopithecidae
Subfamily Cercopithecinae
Lophocebus albigena
Papio anubis
Cercopithecus hamlyni
Cercopithecus lhoesti
Cercopithecus mitis
Cercopithecus ascanius
Cercopithecus wolfi
Cercopithecus aethiops
Subfamily Colobinae
Colobus guereza
Colobus angolensis
Family Pongidae
Pan troglodytes
Gorilla gorilla
(239,000 km2, 15 species)
Family Lorisidae
Subfamily Lorisinae
Perodicticus potto
Subfamily Galaginae
Galago senegalensis
Galagoides demidoff
Family Cercopithecidae
Subfamily Cercopithecinae
Cercocebus atys
Papio anubis
Cercopithecus diana
Cercopithecus petaurista
Cercopithecus campbelli
Cercopithecus mona
Cercopithecus aethiops
Erythrocebus patas
Subfamily Colobinae
Procolobus verus
Procolobus badius
Colobus vellerosus
Family Pongidae
Pan troglodytes
(72,000 km2, 15 species)
Family Lorisidae
Subfamily Lorisinae
Perodicticus potto
Subfamily Galaginae
Galago senegalensis
Galagoides demidoff
Family Cercopithecidae
Subfamily Cercopithecinae
Cercocebus atys
Papio papio
Papio anubis
Cercopithecus diana
Cercopithecus petaurista
Cercopithecus campbelli
Cercopithecus aethiops
Erythrocebus patas
Subfamily Colobinae
Procolobus verus
Procolobus badius
Colobus polykomos
Colobus vellerosusb
Family Pongidae
Pan troglodytes
(246,000 km2, 14 species)
Family Lorisidae
Subfamily Lorisinae
Perodicticus potto
Subfamily Galaginae
Galago senegalensis
Galagoides demidoff
Family Cercopithecidae
Subfamily Cercopithecinae
Cercocebus atys
Papio papio
Papio anubis
Cercopithecus diana
Cercopithecus petaurista
Cercopithecus campbelli
Cercopithecus aethiops
Erythrocebus patas
Subfamily Colobinae
Procolobus badius
Colobus polykomos
Family Pongidae
Pan troglodytes
(111,000 km2, 12 species)
Family Lorisidae
Subfamily Lorisinae
Perodicticus potto
Subfamily Galaginae
Galagoides demidoff
Family Cercopithecidae
Subfamily Cercopithecinae
Cercocebus atys
Cercopithecus diana
Cercopithecus nictitans
Cercopithecus petaurista
Cercopithecus campbelli
Cercopithecus aethiops
Subfamily Colobinae
Procolobus verus
Procolobus badius
Colobus polykomos
Family Pongidae
Pan troglodytes
(28,000 km2, 11–14 species)
Family Lorisidae
Subfamily Lorisinae
Perodicticus potto
Subfamily Galaginae
Otolemur crassicaudatus
(Galago matschiei?)
Galago moholi
(Galagoides demidoff?)
(Galagoides thomasi?)
Family Cercopithecidae
Subfamily Cercopithecinae
Lophocebus albigena
Papio anubis
Cercopithecus lhoesti
Cercopithecus mitis
Cercopithecus aethiops
Subfamily Colobinae
Procolobus badius
Colobus angolensis
Family Pongidae
Pan troglodytes
(2,505,700 km2, 11 species)
Family Lorisidae
Subfamily Galaginae
Galago senegalensis
Family Cercopithecidae
Subfamily Cercopithecinae
Lophocebus albigena
Papio anubis
Papio hamadryas
Cercopithecus neglectus
Cercopithecus mitis
Cercopithecus ascanius
Cercopithecus aethiops
Erythrocebus patas
Subfamily Colobinae
Colobus guereza
Family Pongidae
Pan troglodytes
(113,000 km2, 10–11 species)
Family Lorisidae
Subfamily Lorisinae
Perodicticus potto
Subfamily Galaginae
Galago senegalensis
Galagoides demidoff
Family Cercopithecidae
Subfamily Cercopithecinae
Papio anubis
Cercopithecus erythrogaster
Cercopithecus mona
Cercopithecus aethiops
Erythrocebus patas
Subfamily Colobinae
Procolobus verus
Colobus vellerosus
Family Pongidae
Pan troglodytes (e?)
(1,222,000 km2, 10–11 species)
Family Lorisidae
Subfamily Galaginae
Galago senegalensis
Galago gallarum
Family Cercopithecidae
Subfamily Cercopithecinae
Papio anubis
(Papio cynocephalus?)
Papio hamadryas
Theropithecus gelada *
Cercopithecus neglectus
Cercopithecus mitis
Cercopithecus aethiops
Erythrocebus patas
Subfamily Colobinae
Colobus guereza
(36,000 km2, 10–11 species)
Family Lorisidae
Subfamily Galaginae
Galago senegalensis
(Galagoides demidoff?)
Family Cercopithecidae
Subfamily Cercopithecinae
Cercocebus atys
Papio papio
Cercopithecus petaurista
Cercopithecus campbelli
Cercopithecus aethiops
Erythrocebus patas
Subfamily Colobinae
Procolobus badius
Colobus polykomos
Family Pongidae
Pan troglodytes
(57,000 km2, 9–11 species)
Family Lorisidae
Subfamily Lorisinae
Perodicticus potto
Subfamily Galaginae
Galago senegalensis
Galagoides demidoff
Family Cercopithecidae
Subfamily Cercopithecinae
Papio anubis
Cercopithecus petaurista
Cercopithecus mona
Cercopithecus aethiops
Erythrocebus patas
Subfamily Colobinae
Procolobus verus (e?)
Colobus vellerosus
Family Pongidae
Pan troglodytes (e?)
(752,957 km2, 9–10 species)
Family Lorisidae
Subfamily Lorisinae
(Perodicticus potto?)
Family Cercopithecidae
Subfamily Cercopithecinae
Papio cynocephalus
Papio ursinus
Cercopithecus albogularis
Cercopithecus mitis
Cercopithecus ascanius
Cercopithecus aethiops
Subfamily Colobinae
Colobus angolensis
(197,000 km2, 8–11 species)
Family Lorisidae
Subfamily Galaginae
Galago senegalensis
(Galagoides demidoff?)
Family Cercopithecidae
Subfamily Cercopithecinae
Cercocebus atys
Papio papio
(Cercopithecus petaurista?)
Cercopithecus campbelli
Cercopithecus aethiops
Erythrocebus patas
Subfamily Colobinae
Procolobus badius
(Colobus polykomos?)
Family Pongidae
Pan troglodytes