The putty-nosed monkey is widespread throughout West and Central African tropical forests. Two subspecies are represented in Cameroon: Cercopithecus nictitans ludio which is the one mostly encountered in the North-West region of Cameroon, and Cercopithecus nictitans nictitans. These two subspecies differ in coloration, Cercopithecus nictitans ludio being characterized by its white chest.

It is a relatively large guenon and the most commonly observed diurnal primate of the North-West region of Cameroon. It is hunted by locals for its meat and because of crop raiding.

In Kom and in other sites in the region, the putty-nosed monkey has been heard in mixed groups with mona monkeys and Preuss's monkeys.