Colobus Monkey

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

The Colobus monkey has a number of features that demonstrate adaptation to a life spent primarily in the upper levels of the forest canopy. A light weight bone structure and elongated limbs make it easier to leap from branch to branch. A hand with four fingers and no thumb provides a strong grasp on branches as the animal moves through the trees. (The name "colobus" means "mutilated one" and refers to the missing thumb.)

In traveling from tree to tree, these animals often perform spectacular downward leaps of 15-20 feet, during which the long shoulder hair acts like a parachute, fanning out to help check the animal's descent.

This same white fringe also provides camouflage by breaking up the animal's outline. Unlike other Old world monkeys, the Colobus has no cheek pouches.

DISTRIBUTION and HABITAT:

Most arboreal of all African monkeys, the Colobus seldom descend from the trees. They are confined to the higher elevations, scattered across Africa from Cameroon to Ethiopia. Home range of individual troops are defined and marked by a creaking and rattling vocalization.

BEHAVIOR:

A shy and retiring aloofness sets this species apart from other monkeys and may be the reason they are considered holy in West Africa. They live in troops led by a strong male who usually covers the troop's retreat. As with other species, there is frequent social grooming among troop members.

DIET: 

They live on leaves, fruit, flowers, buds (in the wild and in the Zoo).

REPRODUCTION and GROWTH: 

Unlike many animals, fighting rarely occurs during breeding season. Instead, males and estrous females withdraw from the troop and engage in a "communal marriage" of short duration. The male mates with various females in succession.

After a gestation period of 5-7 months, the pregnant female, accompanied by a male, withdraws from the troop. A day after birth she returns with her young clinging to her underside. The mother carries the young in this manner for about eight months. Other members of the group frequently help by carrying the infant.

STATUS: 

In the past, Black and white colobus monkeys have been hunted by local tribes for their spectacular coats which were used on ceremonial occasions. In addition, American and European furriers used the fur as coat trimmings. The main threat to the species' survival today, however, is the deforestation now occurring widely in tropical areas.

Suggested Reading:

Comparative Placentation (detailed reproductive information), http://medicine.ucsd.edu/cpa/indxfs.html.

Britannica Online, Colobus Monkey, http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9024801/colobus