Olive Colobus
Encyclopedia
The olive colobus or Van Beneden's colobus (Procolobus verus) is a species of primate
in the Cercopithecidae family. It is found in tropical West Africa
, ranging from Sierra Leone
to Nigeria
. Its natural habitat
s are second growth within tall forests, palm forests and swamps. It remains common in many parts of its range and can survive in degraded forest fragments, but is probably declining due to habitat loss and hunting. This relatively small and secretive species is mainly folivorous, although it also takes fruits and seeds when available. Its English name refers to its dull olive upperparts.
The olive colobus is one of the species in the genus Procolobus
, although some authors place all other species of this genus (the red colobi) in Piliocolobus instead.
Primate
A primate is a mammal of the order Primates , which contains prosimians and simians. Primates arose from ancestors that lived in the trees of tropical forests; many primate characteristics represent adaptations to life in this challenging three-dimensional environment...
in the Cercopithecidae family. It is found in tropical West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
, ranging from Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
to Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. Its natural habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
s are second growth within tall forests, palm forests and swamps. It remains common in many parts of its range and can survive in degraded forest fragments, but is probably declining due to habitat loss and hunting. This relatively small and secretive species is mainly folivorous, although it also takes fruits and seeds when available. Its English name refers to its dull olive upperparts.
The olive colobus is one of the species in the genus Procolobus
Procolobus
Procolobus is the genus of the red colobus monkeys and the olive colobus. Some authorities restrict the genus Procolobus to the olive colobus, placing the remaining in Piliocolobus. They are found in Africa where almost entirely restricted to forests...
, although some authors place all other species of this genus (the red colobi) in Piliocolobus instead.