Common Name:Black and White Colobus
Scientific Name:Colobus guereza
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Suborder:Haplorhini
Infraorder:Simiiformes
Family:Cercopithecidae
The Colobus are divided into several sub-species, each of which exhibits a unique appearance. However, all of these sub-species have characteristic mantles - long, white colored fringe of fur, stretching across both sides of the trunk, giving these animals their common name, Black and White Colobus. These primates are black-and-white colobuses, belonging to the group of Old World monkeys. A frame of white colored hairs surrounds their face. On their tail, they display a conspicuous, white tuft. And finally, these animals differ from all other Old World monkeys by having a reduced thumb and lacking pouches on their cheeks.
The natural range of this species occupies Equatorial Africa, stretching from Nigeria and Cameroon eastwards to Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, and northern Tanzania.
The Black and White Colobus are generally found in forest and savannah woodlands as well as highland and montane forests. Overall, they inhabit deciduous and evergreen forests of their range. Other suitable types of habitat include both primary and secondary forests, more precisely, gallery, upland forests as well as riparian forests. Meanwhile, these animals are more often seen in secondary forests than in old-growth ones. They are typically found close to fresh or brackish water bodies such as rivers and lakes.
Ppolygynous animals. A single adult male mates with a group of females otherwise called 'harem'. They don't exhibit a certain mating season, but are known to breed at intervals of 20 - 22 months. Gestation period lasts for 158 days, yielding one baby, which is cared for and handled by the members of its natal group (primarily - females) during the first few months of its life. During this stage of development, the infant travels, clung onto the chest of its mother. By 20 weeks old, the young monkey will begin moving on its own. And finally, it's totally independent and weaned at 50 weeks old. Males of this species are reproductively mature at 6 years old, whereas females can produce offspring of their won at 4 years old.
The Black and White Colobus are herbivores (folivores), their diet is generally composed but not restricted to leaves. Overall, these animals have a rather diverse diet. They consume fruit, bark, wood, seeds, flowers, petioles, lianas, aquatic-plants, arthropods, soil as well as occasional concrete of buildings.
The Black and White Colobus are primarily threatened by the destruction of their habitat. These animals also suffer from large-scale hunting and capture for sale and trade: their skin serves as material for trimming coats, dresses, circular rugs, and wall hangings.
Least Concern