What does vervet mean?
A vervet is a small African monkey belonging to the genus Chlorocebus, particularly the East African green monkey, Chlorocebus pygerythrus. The animals are recognized by their grey-green coloration, pale undersides, and dark faces, with the coloring varying somewhat among populations. Vervets live in social groups commonly called troops, colonies, or communities, and maintain complex social relationships based partly on vocal recognition. Their calls include contact sounds, territorial signals, and alarm calls associated with different types of danger. In wildlife writing and ordinary conversation, "vervet" usually means the vervet monkey, although "vervet monkey" may be used where greater clarity is needed. The term also occurs in discussions of primate behavior, disease ecology, conservation, and urban wildlife. It is a precise and useful name because it distinguishes these monkeys from other African primates while remaining more familiar than the scientific designation Chlorocebus.
nounA monkey of the genus Chlorocebus, especially the East African green monkey, Chlorocebus pygerythrus. Vervets are social animals that live in troops and communicate with varied vocalizations.
- A monkey of the genus Chlorocebus, especially Chlorocebus pygerythrus, the East African green monkey.
"A vervet sounded a warning as a predator approached the troop."
"Researchers recorded the vervet's alarm call when an eagle approached."
"The guide explained how a group of vervets recognizes different members by their voices."
Use the plural when referring to multiple animals; the singular name also serves as the usual name for the species.
"Several vervets crossed the road near the forest edge."
A vervet troop can issue different alarm calls for different kinds of danger, including predators in the air and on the ground.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of vervet
The English word entered use in the 16th century as a borrowing from French vervet. The French word is commonly traced to Middle Dutch, although its older ancestry and the precise semantic path by which it developed are not securely established.
How vervet is actually used
The unqualified form is common in wildlife contexts, while "vervet monkey" is clearer in general writing. The word is neutral and is used in both British and American English.
Easily confused with vervet
Grivet is an older and still-used name for the East African green monkey, Chlorocebus pygerythrus, the species also commonly called the vervet monkey; the names overlap rather than consistently identify different species.