Introduction

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In 2003, Butynski & De Jong started a long term program, "Assessment of the Diversity and Conservation Status of Primates in Eastern Africa". The research program is comprised of several research projects. These projects are briefly described below.

Eastern Arc Mountains and the Coastal Forests of Kenya, Tanzania and Kenya (ongoing)
Between 2005 and 2008, Butynski and De Jong are conducting fieldwork in the Eastern Arc Mountains and the coastal forests of Kenya, an area designated by Conservation International as part of the Eastern Arc Mountains and Coastal Forests of Tanzania and Kenya Biodiversity Hotspot (EACF). Primates are an especially important taxonomic group for the focus of conservation actions in this Hotspot. The EACF Hotspot supports no fewer than nine endemic species and five endemic (or near-endemic) subspecies of primates.  Several of these primate taxa are listed in the IUCN/SSC Red List as “Critically Endangered” or “Endangered”.  Others are listed as “Data Deficient”.  This means that, “…there is inadequate information to make a direct, or indirect, assessment of its risk of extinction based on its distribution and/or population status”.  In addition, there are many important taxonomic questions related to the primates in this Hotspot.  Until we know how many species and subspecies of primates occur in the Hotspot, where they occur, and the level of extinction risk each taxon faces, we cannot be said to be undertaking effective primate conservation in the Hotspot.

Although primates represent one of the best-known taxonomic groups found in the Hotspot, numerous important questions remain concerning taxonomy, distribution, abundance, conservation status, and priorities for conservation actions.  In fact, there is probably no species or subspecies of primate in this Hotspot for which important questions do not exist that are relevant to the assessment of its conservation status and, ultimately, to its long-term survival. 

Butynski and De Jong are assessing primate diversity, distribution, taxonomy and the conservation status of all primates in the Eastern Arc Mountains and the Kenya Coastal Forests in a project named: Assessment of the Diversity and Conservation Status of Primates in the Coastal Forests of Kenya with financial support of the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund.

Natural History of the Somali Lesser Galago (Galago gallarum)(ongoing)
The Somali lesser galago (or Somali bushbaby) (Galago gallarum Thomas, 1901) is one of Africa’s least known primates.  Field observations, literature review and museum visits are being undertaken to obtain information on the natural history of the Somali lesser galago. This project reviews what is known about the taxonomy, distribution, abundance, ecology, behaviour, and conservation status of G. gallarum. In our paper (Butynski & De Jong, 2004) we present data based upon our preliminary observations of this species in Kenya during 2003-2004. More fieldwork will be conducted from 2006-2008.

Distribution, Taxonomy and Conservation Status of the Patas monkey (Erythrocebus patas) in Eastern Africa (ongoing).
De Jong and Butynski are conducting surveys in eastern Africa to assess the historic and present geographic range of the patas monkey. Data are also being obtained from literature surveys and communications with other researchers, rangers, tour guides, naturalist, etc. The taxonomy of the various subspecies of E. patas named for eastern Africa is being reviewed under this project.

Taxonomy, Distribution Conservation Status of Papio anubis, Papio cynocephalus, Cercopithecus mitis and Clorocebus pygerythrus in Eastern Africa (ongoing).
All diurnal primates encountered during fieldtrips are described, photographed and the locality mapped in order to assess their taxonomy, distribution and conservation status.

Distribution of Springhares pedetes in Eastern Africa (ongoing).
Surveys, museum studies, literature reviews and communications with other researchers, rangers, tourist guides, naturalist, etc., are being undertaken to establish the geographical range of Pedetes in eastern Africa.

 Distribution, Abundance, Ecology and Conservation Status of the Desert Warthog (Phacochoerus aethiopicus) in Kenya, Uganda, and Ethiopia (ongoing).
Surveys, museum studies, literature reviews, and communications with other researchers, rangers, tourt guides, naturalist, etc., are being undertaken to establish the geographical range of the desert warthog in eastern Africa. Fecal and tissue samples are collected and analyzed to get more insight in their taxonomic status.


Taxonomy, Distribution Conservation Status of the dikdiks (Madoqua) of eastern Africa (ongoing).
Surveys, museum studies, literature reviews, and communications with other researchers, rangers, tourt guides, naturalist, etc., are being undertaken to establish the geographical range of Madoqua spp. in eastern Africa. Fecal and tissue samples are collected and analyzed to get more insight in their taxonomic status.


Surveys of Red Colobus (Procolobus spp.) and other Primates in the Coastal Forests of East Africa: A Search for New Populations and Taxa (starting).
No group of African primates has a more controversial, complex, and confusing taxonomy than the red colobus monkeys (Procolobus spp.) (Dandelot 1974, Napier 1985, Groves 2001, Grubb et al. 2003, Struhsaker 2005).  Many of the more widely recognized species and subspecies of Procolobus have small distributions and populations, and a few may now be extinct. The primary objectives of this project are to (1) confirm or refute reports that populations of Procolobus occur in three new sites in the coastal forests of East Africa, and, if confirmed, (2) assess both the taxonomic and conservation status of these populations, and (3) make recommendations for conservation action. 

Taxonomy, Distribution and Conservation Status of Three Species of Dwarf Galagos (Galagoides) in Eastern Africa (completed).
In cooperation with Andrew W. Perkin, Simon K. Bearder and Paul E. Honess we reviewed the  complicated nomenclatural history for the Kenya coast galago Galagoides cf. cocos and examined whether ‘cocos’ is the valid species name for this recently resurrected taxon.  In the joint paper we review the phenotypic and vocal differences among G. cocos, Zanzibar galago Galagoides zanzibaricus zanzibaricus, Udzungwa galago Galagoides zanzibaricus udzungwensis, and Mozambique galago Galagoides granti, as well as their geographic ranges and conservation status. This paper is in press in the journal Primate Conservation.

Distribution of the Potto Perodicticus potto in Eastern Africa (completed).
Surveys, museum studies, literature reviews and communications with other researchers, rangers, tourt guides, naturalist, etc., are being undertaken to establish the geographical range of Perodicticus potto in eastern Africa.

Galago senegalensis
 Isiolo, Kenya

Cercopithecus mitis
albotorquatus
Witu Forest, Kenya

Erythrocebus patas pyrrhonotus
Laikipia, Kenya
By D. Nightingale

Otolemur garnettii
 Tana River Primate National Reserve, Kenya

Cercopithecus pygerythrus
Samburu, Kenya

Colobus guereza kikuyensis
Naromoro, Kenya