Red colobus
Encyclopedia
Red colobuses are Old World monkey
s of the subgenus Piliocolobus in genus Procolobus
. Some authors elevate Piliocolobus to a full genus
, limiting Procolobus to the olive colobus
. They are closely related to the black-and-white colobus
monkeys (genus Colobus) and some species are often found in groups with the blue monkey
. The western red colobus
is frequently hunted by the common chimpanzee
.
The members of this subgenus are found in western, central and eastern Africa, and the species have largely allo- or parapatric distributions. Most are restricted to humid forests, but the Zanzibar red colobus prefers coastal thickets and scrub. Red colobuses are primarily arboreal and are highly sensitive to hunting and habitat destruction
, and have been referred to as probably the most threatened taxonomic group of primates in Africa. If following the taxonomic treatment advocated in Mammal Species of the World
, all species except the Central African red colobus
are assessed by the IUCN as Endangered or Critically Endangered
.
determined by aggressive behavior. Food, grooming, and sexual partners are distributed amongst higher ranking individuals initially, followed by lower ranking individuals.
some leaves may contain. However, their stomachs are able to digest some toxic plants that other primates cannot.
predation may be a major selection
factor upon some red colobus populations. Although chimpanzees primarily eat fruit, leaves, and insects, if the opportunity to eat meat rises, they will pursue it. In addition to sustenance, evidence suggests that chimpanzees prey on red colobus to reinforce social status as well as to attract sexual partners. When under attack, the red colobus males congregate to defend their group while the females gather their infants and try to escape. Larger groups of red colobus have an increased likelihood of attracting chimpanzees, however they also tend to have more defending males which makes it harder for chimpanzees to hunt successfully. Furthermore, while under attack, male colobus shout an alarm call that lets others know if there are chimpanzees or other predators in the area. The frequency of these shouts are increased with the number of females and infants in the group as a way to spread the news of an expected attack.
Old World monkey
The Old World monkeys or Cercopithecidae are a group of primates, falling in the superfamily Cercopithecoidea in the clade Catarrhini. The Old World monkeys are native to Africa and Asia today, inhabiting a range of environments from tropical rain forest to savanna, shrubland and mountainous...
s of the subgenus Piliocolobus in 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...
. Some authors elevate Piliocolobus to a full genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
, limiting Procolobus to the olive colobus
Olive Colobus
The olive colobus or Van Beneden's colobus is a species of primate in the Cercopithecidae family. It is found in tropical West Africa, ranging from Sierra Leone to Nigeria. Its natural habitats are second growth within tall forests, palm forests and swamps...
. They are closely related to the black-and-white colobus
Black-and-white colobus
Black-and-white colobuses are Old World monkeys of the genus Colobus, native to Africa. They are closely related to the brown colobus monkeys of genus Piliocolobus. The word "colobus" comes from Greek κολοβός kolobós , and is so named because its thumb is a stump.Colobuses are herbivorous, eating...
monkeys (genus Colobus) and some species are often found in groups with the blue monkey
Blue Monkey
The blue monkey or diademed monkey is a species of Old World monkey native to Central and East Africa, ranging from the upper Congo River basin east to the Great Rift Valley and south to northern Angola and Zambia...
. The western red colobus
Western Red Colobus
The western red colobus is a species of Old World monkey found in West African forests from Senegal to Ghana. All other species of red colobuses have formerly been considered subspecies of P. badius. It is often hunted by the common chimpanzee...
is frequently hunted by the common chimpanzee
Common Chimpanzee
The common chimpanzee , also known as the robust chimpanzee, is a great ape. Colloquially, the common chimpanzee is often called the chimpanzee , though technically this term refers to both species in the genus Pan: the common chimpanzee and the closely related bonobo, formerly called the pygmy...
.
The members of this subgenus are found in western, central and eastern Africa, and the species have largely allo- or parapatric distributions. Most are restricted to humid forests, but the Zanzibar red colobus prefers coastal thickets and scrub. Red colobuses are primarily arboreal and are highly sensitive to hunting and habitat destruction
Habitat destruction
Habitat destruction is the process in which natural habitat is rendered functionally unable to support the species present. In this process, the organisms that previously used the site are displaced or destroyed, reducing biodiversity. Habitat destruction by human activity mainly for the purpose of...
, and have been referred to as probably the most threatened taxonomic group of primates in Africa. If following the taxonomic treatment advocated in Mammal Species of the World
Mammal Species of the World
Mammal Species of the World, now in its 3rd edition, is a standard reference work in zoology giving descriptions and bibliographic data for the known species of mammals.An updated Third Edition of Mammal Species of the World was published late in 2005:...
, all species except the Central African red colobus
Central African Red Colobus
The Central African red colobus is an Old World monkey in the Cercopithecidae family. It is found in humid forests in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, and Sudan.-Taxonomy:...
are assessed by the IUCN as Endangered or Critically Endangered
Critically Endangered
Critically Endangered is the highest risk category assigned by the IUCN Red List for wild species. Critically Endangered means that a species' numbers have decreased, or will decrease, by 80% within three generations....
.
Social behavior
Groups often establish a dominance hierarchyDominance hierarchy
A dominance hierarchy is the organization of individuals in a group that occurs when competition for resources leads to aggression...
determined by aggressive behavior. Food, grooming, and sexual partners are distributed amongst higher ranking individuals initially, followed by lower ranking individuals.
Diet
The diet of the red colobus monkeys consists mainly of young leaves, flowers, and unripe fruit. They are also known to eat charcoal to help combat the cyanideCyanide
A cyanide is a chemical compound that contains the cyano group, -C≡N, which consists of a carbon atom triple-bonded to a nitrogen atom. Cyanides most commonly refer to salts of the anion CN−. Most cyanides are highly toxic....
some leaves may contain. However, their stomachs are able to digest some toxic plants that other primates cannot.
Chimpanzee predation
Research indicates that chimpanzeeChimpanzee
Chimpanzee, sometimes colloquially chimp, is the common name for the two extant species of ape in the genus Pan. The Congo River forms the boundary between the native habitat of the two species:...
predation may be a major selection
Natural selection
Natural selection is the nonrandom process by which biologic traits become either more or less common in a population as a function of differential reproduction of their bearers. It is a key mechanism of evolution....
factor upon some red colobus populations. Although chimpanzees primarily eat fruit, leaves, and insects, if the opportunity to eat meat rises, they will pursue it. In addition to sustenance, evidence suggests that chimpanzees prey on red colobus to reinforce social status as well as to attract sexual partners. When under attack, the red colobus males congregate to defend their group while the females gather their infants and try to escape. Larger groups of red colobus have an increased likelihood of attracting chimpanzees, however they also tend to have more defending males which makes it harder for chimpanzees to hunt successfully. Furthermore, while under attack, male colobus shout an alarm call that lets others know if there are chimpanzees or other predators in the area. The frequency of these shouts are increased with the number of females and infants in the group as a way to spread the news of an expected attack.
Species
- Western red colobusWestern Red ColobusThe western red colobus is a species of Old World monkey found in West African forests from Senegal to Ghana. All other species of red colobuses have formerly been considered subspecies of P. badius. It is often hunted by the common chimpanzee...
, Procolobus badius - Pennant's colobusPennant's ColobusPennant's colobus is a species of primate in the Cercopithecidae family. Its distribution is peculiarly disjunct and has been considered a biogeographical puzzle, with one population on the island of Bioko , a second in the Niger River Delta in southern Nigeria, and a third in east-central...
, Procolobus pennantii - Niger Delta red colobusNiger Delta Red ColobusThe Niger Delta red colobus is a species of colobus monkey. From the time it first became known to science in 1993 until 2007 or 2008 it was considered a subspecies of the western red colobus, Procolobus badius and more recently Pennant's colobus, Procolobus pennantii, and its trinomial name was...
, Procolobus epieni - Preuss's red colobusPreuss's Red ColobusPreuss's red colobus is a red colobus primate species endemic to the Cross-Sanaga Rivers ecoregion. An important population occurs in Korup National Park, Southwest Province, Cameroon, but the species' distribution is localized...
, Procolobus preussi - Thollon's red colobusThollon's Red ColobusThollon's red colobus , also known as the Tshuapa red colobus, is a species of red colobus monkey from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and lower Republic of the Congo. It is found south of Congo River and west of Lomami River. It had once been considered a subspecies of the P. badius...
, Procolobus tholloni - Central African red colobusCentral African Red ColobusThe Central African red colobus is an Old World monkey in the Cercopithecidae family. It is found in humid forests in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, and Sudan.-Taxonomy:...
, Procolobus foai - Ugandan red colobusUgandan Red ColobusThe Ugandan red colobus is a species of red colobus monkey found in forests of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and western Tanzania. It has been considered a subspecies of P. badius, and later a subspecies of P. foai. It was recognised as a distinct species by Groves in 2001, while others have suggested...
, Procolobus tephrosceles - Uzungwa red colobusUzungwa Red ColobusThe Uzungwa red colobus , also known as the Udzungwa red colobus or Iringa red colobus, is a species of primate in the Cercopithecidae family. It is endemic to riverine and montane forest in the Udzungwa Mountains in Tanzania. It is threatened by habitat loss....
, Procolobus gordonorum - Zanzibar red colobusZanzibar Red ColobusThe Zanzibar red colobus is a species of red colobus monkey endemic to Unguja, the main island of the Zanzibar archipelago, off the coast of Tanzania. It is also known as Kirk's red colobus after Sir John Kirk , the British Resident of Zanzibar who first brought it to the attention of zoological...
, Procolobus kirkii - Tana River red colobusTana River Red ColobusThe Tana River red colobus , also called the eastern red colobus, is a highly endangered species of primate in the Cercopithecidae family. It is endemic to a narrow zone of gallery forest near the Tana River in southeastern Kenya. As all red colobuses, it was formerly considered a subspecies of a...
, Procolobus rufomitratus