Angolan colobus monkey

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Colobus monkeys have a glossy black coat with long white mantle fur, white whiskers, and a white beard around their face. The colobus’ tail is white and bushy at the tip.
Infants are born all white and begin to develop the black coloration seen in adults at approximately 3 months of age.
These monkeys can be up to 30 inches long not including their tails which can be up to 35 inches in length.
They weigh between 15 and 30 pounds with the males being larger than the females.
Unlike other old-world monkeys, colobus have no cheek pouches for food storage and their thumbs are nearly absent.
Their bone structure is light weight and their limbs are elongated which makes it easier for them to leap from tree to tree.

Range – restricted to areas of higher elevations across Africa from Cameroon and Ethiopia
Habitat – found in a variety of habitats including gallery, montane, lowland, and bamboo forests; may also be found in savannahs and swamp lands

Wild – mostly Leaves, some fruits and flowers
Zoo – vegetables, lettuce, browse (edible native plants), leaf eater chow (dry food with vitamins and nutrients)

Angolan colobus are polygynous monkeys and reach reproductive maturity between 3 and 5 years of age.
Females will breed with the dominant male their social group after presenting to him. This act communicates to the male that the female is ready for copulation.
There is no distinct breeding season for this species and gestation is between 5 and 7 months. Females give birth to usually 1 but occasionally 2 offspring.
A pregnant female, accompanied by a male, will withdraw from the troop to give birth and return the next day with the infant clinging to her underside. She will carry the offspring in this manner for about 8 months.
Young are cared for by not only their mothers, but also other members of the social group and then are weaned at approximately 15 months of age.

Major threats: habitat destruction, hunting for bush meat and skins
Angolan colobus are not considered endangered and may be quite abundant in parts of their range.
In highly populated areas; however, they are vulnerable to loss of habitat and also hunting.

Colobus monkeys are diurnal and also more arboreal than any other African monkey.
They live in troops of up to 25 individuals with one dominant male, 2-6 females, and offspring. Temporary gatherings of over 300 have been observed.
Juvenile males are forced to leave the group before reaching maturity but may try to take the dominant male’s place by challenging him.
Common predators of colobus monkeys include eagles, leopards, and humans. When a social group is threatened the male will jump and roar until the rest of the troop has fled.
Dominant males of neighboring troops have morning roaring sessions to establish boundaries between small core home ranges.
In West Africa they are considered “holy”, maybe because of their shy and retiring aloof nature.
The “Colobus” in their name means “mutilated one” which refers to this species’ near absent thumb.

African Wildlife Foundation. (2010). Colobus Monkey. Retrieved January 15, 2010, from the African Wildlife Foundation Web site: http://www.awf.org/content/wildlife/detail/colobusmonkey
Honolulu Zoo. (2010). Colobus Monkey. Retrieved January 15, 2010, from the Honolulu Zoo Website: http://www.honoluluzoo.org/colobus_monkey.htm
Kingdon, J., Struhsaker, T., Oates, J.F., Hart, J. & Groves, C.P. (2008). Colobus guereza. Retrieved February 15, 2010, from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Web site: http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/5143/0
Oregon Zoo. (2010). Colobus Monkey. Retrieved January 15, 2010, from the Oregon Zoo Web site: http://www.oregonzoo.org/Cards/Rainforest/monkey.colobus.htm
University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. (2010). Animal Diversity Web: Colobus angolensis. Retrieved January 14, 2010, from the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Website: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Colobus_angolensis.htm
Zoo Atlanta Keeper Staff

Updated January 2010