Colobus monkeys and colobus monkeys
| Colobus monkeys and colobus monkeys | ||||||||||||
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Mantled monkey ( Colobus guereza ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Colobinae | ||||||||||||
| Jerdon , 1867 |
The colobinae (Colobinae) form a subfamily of the primate family of Cercopithecidae (Cercopithecidae). This subfamily is divided into two tribes : the colobus monkeys (Colobini) and the slender monkeys (Presbytini). In total, the subfamily comprises 10 genera and around 60 species.
distribution
The two tribes have separate distribution areas. While the slender monkeys live in Asia ( South and Southeast Asia as well as in southern China ), the distribution area of the colobus monkeys includes the tropical belt of Africa .
Description and way of life
Colobus monkeys and colobus monkeys are medium-sized primates with a long tail (except for the Pageh snub nose ). Their fur can be differently colored. It is noticeable that in almost all species the young animals differ considerably in their coloration from the adults. The thumb is receded in the colobus monkeys.
Way of life
They are mostly tree-dwelling animals, some species are more or less often found on the ground. They are found in different habitats in different climatic zones (for example in tropical rainforests , mangrove forests , mountain forests and savannas , but not in deserts and other dry areas). They live in groups, whereby there can be different group forms.
food
They are almost exclusively herbivores that feed primarily on leaves, flowers and fruits. Insects and other animals eat them occasionally at best. In order to process the food, especially the difficult to digest leaves, they have a multi-part, complex stomach. In contrast to the cheek pouch monkeys , however, they have no cheek pouches.
Reproduction
After an average gestation period of six to seven months, the female usually gives birth to a single young. This is weaned at around one year and is sexually mature at 3 to 6 years. Their life expectancy is around 20 years.
threat
The destruction of their habitat through conversion into arable and pastureland represents the main threat to the common monkeys and colobus monkeys. In addition, several species have a very small distribution area, so that a large number of the colobus and colobus monkeys appear on the red list . Of the approximately 35 species, 14 are considered threatened and 2 are considered critically endangered, and data are missing for some species.
Systematics
The slippery monkeys and colobus monkeys are divided into two tribes with a total of 10 genera. However, this classification is not undisputed:
- The colobus monkeys (Colobini) live in Africa and currently comprise three genera:
- Black and white colobus monkey ( Colobus )
- Red colobus monkey ( Piliocolobus )
- Green colobus monkey ( Procolobus )
- The Schlankaffen (Presbytini) are native to Asia and comprise seven genera, of which the first three in the Langur group and the rest in the "Odd-nosed monkeys" group are summarized.
- Boned langurs ( Presbytis )
- Crested langurs ( Trachypithecus )
- Indian langurs ( Semnopithecus )
- Coat monkey ( Pygathrix )
- Snub-nosed monkey ( Rhinopithecus )
- Pageh's snub nose ( Simias )
- Proboscis monkey ( nasalis ).
Fossils have come down to us a. Cercopithecoides kimeui , Rhinocolobus turkanensis and Paracolobus , which were found in East Africa around two million years ago.
literature
- Thomas Geissmann: Comparative Primatology . Springer, Berlin 2003, ISBN 3-540-43645-6 .
- Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World . 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore 1999, ISBN 0-8018-5789-9 (English).
