Common Name: Black and white colobus monkey

Scientific Name: Colobus guereza

These primates live on the islands of the Primate Expedition Cruise.

Description: Black and white colobus have a sleek black coat highlighted by white hair around the black face, a white mantle (or cape) and a long, horse-like white tail. Albinism is reported with some regularity around Mount Kenya. Weight is around 7 to 14 kg. Colobus are capable of making great leaps in excess of 6 meters from one tree to another. Colobus have greatly reduced or absent thumbs on the hands.

Range: Central Africa

Habitat: Forest. Primarily arboreal but will come to the ground.

Diet: Leaves are the primary diet, but fruit and other plant parts are eaten. Colobus have large specialized stomach similar to animals like cows and sloths. A three chambered stomach with a large holding area slightly protected from the lower acid allows bacteria to break down cellulose and some toxins. Elevated amounts of saliva also hinder acids from disrupting the bacterial processing.

Social Life: Groups of colobus range from three to fifteen usually with only one male although this varies. Bachelor groups are also known. A single young is usually produced every 20 months although a set gestation is not commonly agreed upon. Infants are completely white at birth but gain full adult coloration around four months. Maturity is reached between four and six years. Lifespan appears to be in excess of 20 years.

Conservation: Although some colobus species are endangered, this species is not currently listed as such. Threats to survival include habitat loss but hunting seems a bigger problem. Ornamental trimming for clothing as well as wall hangings are produced from the pelt.

Photos from the Zoo's Visual Tour: Close up view of a colobus and another photo .

Recommended LINKS & BOOKS

Primate Info Net's colobus monkey page

A great reference book on primates is Noel Rowe's The Pictorial Guide to the Living Primates.

Protecting colobus monkeys in the wild

Dr. David Macdonald's Encyclopedia of Mammals is one of the great standards for mammal information including the colobus. Purchase it through Amazon.com by clicking on the photo to help the zoo!

Another excellent text on African mammals is The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals.

Walker's Mammals of the World Although the photos are mixed quality black and white, this two volume set has great text.