Angolan colobus monkey

Physical features

• 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 African-Eurasian 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.

Diet: Folivore

• Wild – mostly Leaves, some fruits and flowers

• Zoo – vegetables, lettuce, browse (edible native plants), leaf eater chow (dry food with vitamins and nutrients)

Reproduction

• 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.

Interpretive Information

• 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.

Updated January 2010