Conversations with Critters Furever Friday October 31, 2025

Walk with the animals. Talk with the animals. And Happy Halloween! Plus the incredible Patas monkey...

Oct 31, 2025

Today Critters, we are pleased to share a conversational treat with the introduction of the incredible Patas Monkey! Native to many parts of central, western, and eastern Africa, they are the fastest primate on Earth. Full stop.

Please, welcome our Core Community Critters Jasper Kitten, Chris and Jojo in excellent hallowed ground critter conversation. Take it away!

white and brown monkey on brown dirt during daytime — Field Note Treat: Introducing the Patas Monkey [Photo by Caleb Ellis on Unsplash]

Heidi: Happy Halloween, Friends! And welcome to our Furever Friday Post! Whether you have a trick or a treat, we are happy to be here with you and have an incredible conversation about Patas monkeys to share today. So, lets’s read all about it!

Jasper: Hello, Critters. Given my Orange nature, I am the closest anyone at the Condo can get to being a Pumpkin. Therefore, Happy Halloween!

Chris: Greetings, Everyone! For the purposes of conversational clarification, we are continuing to talk about primates, the mammals comprised of both apes, who do not have tails, and monkeys, who do have tails. The end.

Jojo: Hello, hello Everyone, and oh my goodness, Chris, that is an incredible conversation opener and really gets at the heart of the matter.

Chris: Yes. Last week, we talked about the incredible Siamangs who are apes. This week, we are talking about the incredible Patas, a monkey known for many amazing qualities and who is the fastest primate on Earth. Cuz. They can reach speeds of 34 mph/55 kmh. The end.

Jasper: Critters, for the sake of the most relevant comparison, cats, also known in the vernacular as domestic felines such as my one said Orange self, can have bursts of speed up to 30 mph or, if you prefer the metric system, 48 kilometers per hour. Full stop.

Chris: Thank you for the comparative stats, Jasper.

Jasper: You’re welcome, Chris.

Chris: When I am comfy on the Couch, I have seen you race up the stairs and if I were actually to clock your speed which would, of course, detract and distract me from my napping cycle, I’d say you easily and effortlessly reach 30 mph in less than a few seconds. The end.

Jasper: Thank you, Chris. Thank you very much.

Chris: Of course, but now I’m exhausted which leads me to my next question about Patas monkeys before I take my next nap. The end again.

Jojo: We’re all ears, Chris.

Jasper: Correct, Chris. Please. Proceed about Patas monkey behavior.

Chris: Given their incredible ground speed, and I repeat they clock in at 34 mph or 55 kph, what do they eat in order to have the energy to move that fast? Question mark. Question mark.

Jasper: Thank you for the question, Chris.

Chris: You’re welcome.

Jasper: They are omnivores.

Chris: Okay. I’m listening. Tell me everything.

Jojo: They eat insects, gum, seeds, and tubers. Furthermore, they have cheek pouches that can hold as much food as their stomachs. Full stop.

Chris: Incredible. I like the sounds of that in terms of both form and function. They must get quite fatigued after running flat out on the savanna and foraging for food which logically leads me to my next question. Where do they sleep?

Jasper: Good question, Chris. After roaming widely across the savanna, they slept safely together in trees.

Chris: Excellent. I feel good about that.

Jojo: Would now be a good time to share and state their Latin Binomial name?

Chris: Yes.

Jasper: Please. Proceed.

Jojo: Erythrocebus patas.

Jasper: Well said, Jojo. Let’s share a photo of the Patas monkey and the natural habitat range in Africa for the edification and enjoyment of our Dear Gentle Critters and Dear Gentle Readers:

Field Note: Patas monkey, Erythrocebus patas, and natural habitat range in Africa

[Credit: Photo and Map]

Jojo: Critters, it is important and imperative to note that in the wild, the Patas monkeys are a near threatened species.

Jasper: Due to: Habitat loss, the bushmeat trade, and being treated like an agricultural pest.

Chris: Friends, given these high pressure conservation circumstances, we ask each and everyone of us to keep our hearts and minds open to the survival of the Patas monkey, to protect them and help them thrive.

Jasper: Thank you, Chris, for this impassioned plea on behalf of the incredible Patas monkey. I feel our kinship with them even from afar.

Chris: Of course. Of course. Furthermore, I simply cannot sleep at a time like this. The end.

Jojo: Ditto, I feel our deep deep kinship, too.

Chris: Critters, as we feel for one another, please stay safe on this Halloween weekend, on hallowed ground and on the Couch and, most of all, have fun out there!

Jojo: And remember, we luvluvluv you. Furever. The.

Jasper: End.

🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾

Poetry with Pets

Eating and sleeping

The fastest primate on Earth

Restore habitat

By Jasper Kitten, Chris and Jojo