Taxonomic assessment of the allopatric gray‐cheeked mangabey ( Cercocebus albigena ) and black mangabey ( C. aterrimus ): Comparative socioecological data and the species concept

A brief review of past taxonomic assessments of the allopatric gray‐cheeked mangabey ( Cercocebus albigena ) and the black mangabey ( Cercocebus aterrimus ) is presented. On the basis of pelage, cranial, and biomolecular morphology, aterrimus and albigena have been lumped together in the same species‐group, superspecies, subgenus, or species by various systematists over the years. A comparison of the available socioecological data on the two forms supports their close taxonomic association, as they are found to be very similar in socioecological traits. After a brief review of current species concepts, the author, on the basis of the socioecological commonalities, tentatively supports Groves' [1978] conspecific designation of albigena and aterrimus and suggests further tests for this proposal and for the species concept, from the points of view of both taxonomic and evolutionary theory.