King colobus

Whiskered colobus (Colobus polykomos )

The white beard or bear Colobus (Colobus polykomos ) is a primate of the group of colobus monkeys ( Colobini ).

Features

Whiskered colobus monkeys are like all Colobus slender, long-tailed primates with rückgebildetem thumb. The coat is predominantly black in color, only the back hair and chest are white. The tail is also completely white and, in contrast to other members of the black-and- white colobus monkeys no tassel.

Distribution and habitat

Whiskered colobus monkeys are native to western Africa, their range extends from Gambia to the Ivory Coast. Their habitat is forests.

Way of life

These primates are diurnal and arboreal, mostly residing in the canopy and rarely come to the ground. They live in small groups that are ( sometimes more) composed of one male, about three to four females and the common offspring. There are territorial animals, although the areas overlap to some extent, some groups go to each other but out of the way. Loud roar of the males in the morning, the other groups point to the location. Meet two groups nevertheless, it comes between the respective male aggressive behavior that is with gestures, loud roar and discharged with physical confrontations.

Whiskered Colobus take mainly leaves to him, beside they also eat fruits and seeds. A multi-chamber stomach helps them in the recovery of indigestible food leaves.

After a nearly six -month gestation, the female gives birth to usually a single young is born. This is initially white in color, and not only the mother but also the other females of the group take care of it.

Threat

Like many other residents of West African forests suffer the Whiskered Colobus at the progressive destruction and reduction of their habitat. The IUCN lists the species as Near Threatened indeed, but indicates that this assessment is outdated.

In Duisburg Zoo, some animals are kept, the Zoo also manages the studbook in which the Weltzoobestand is maintained.