This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American
On supporting science journalism
If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
Play the game and see if you can identify the mammal shown here. The photo’s a bit rubbish, but that’s deliberate in order to make this more of a challenge. As always, the winner receives a smug sense of self-satisfaction. Let battle commence! (and, yes, this is an effort to get more than c. 20 comments, so don’t be shy).
UPDATE (added 26th Sept 2011): And the answer is…. well done to those of you who identified it as an Allen’s swamp monkey Allenopithecus nigroviridis (Bret Newton and Dartian) - this is the right answer. Some of the more peculiar features of this species aren’t visible (pointed ears, facial disk, white chin), but the stocky proportions (more like those of a macaque than a guenon), rather homogenous, olive-khaki coat colour, proportionally short tail and suggestion of a wide-cheeked face should have distinguished it from other cercopithecids. The tail should come to a point and not be blunt as it is in this animal – maybe the tip was damaged. It was photographed in captivity in the UK, hence the temperate flora. Bit disappointed that no-one identified it as a ropen or gorgonopsian, but otherwise, thanks for playing.
