Colobus guereza

Cladus: Eukaryota
Supergroup: Opisthokonta
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Cladus: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Classis: Mammalia
Subclassis: Theria
Infraclassis: Placentalia
Ordo: Primates
Subordo: Haplorrhini
Infraordo: Simiiformes
Parvordo: Catarrhini
Superfamilia: Cercopithecoidea
Familia: Cercopithecidae
Subfamilia: Colobinae
Genus: Colobus
Species: Colobus guereza

Name

Colobus guereza, Rüppell, 1835

Vernacular names
English: Mantled Guereza
日本語: アビシニアコロブス、ゲレザ

References

* Colobus guereza in Mammal Species of the World.
Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, 2 Volume Set edited by Don E. Wilson, DeeAnn M. Reeder

The Mantled Guereza (Colobus guereza), also known simply as the Guereza, the Eastern Black-and-white Colobus,[2] or the Abyssinian Black-and-white Colobus,[3] is a colobus monkey, a kind of Old World monkey. It is native to much of west central and east Africa, including Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Chad.

Appearance

This black-and-white colobus species grows to about 18-28 inches, with a 20-35 inch tail. It weighs 12-32 pounds. It has no cheek pouches, and, like most colobi, the thumb is nearly absent. Its coat is a glossy black with its face and rump surrounded by white and a U-shaped white mantle on its sides and rear of back. Its tail is white at the end. Young are all white. The point of its nose nearly touches its mouth. Its hind legs are long and well-muscled for leaping through the trees and bounding along branches. Its rump callouses allow it to sit for long periods of time on slender branches without discomfort.

Habitat
Back and tail of a Mantled Guereza at the Milwaukee County Zoological Gardens

Diurnal and arboreal, it lives in the uppermost branches of tropical forests, woodlands and wooded grassland (where it may travel on the ground), including lowlands and high elevations. It is most abundant in secondary forests or along rivers. The Mantled Guereza's digestive system is designed to process leaves; its stomach is enlarged, specialized and contains bacteria for fermentation. It will also occasionally eat flowers, twigs, buds, seeds and shoots. Fruit makes up about a third of its diet.

Social system and reproduction

Troop size of the Mantled Guereza is usually 6-9, with one or more adult males. Its home range is about 40 acres (160,000 m2). This species has a preferred area within its home range from which other groups are chased, but not permanently excluded. Visual and vocal displays occur when groups meet, and loud nocturnal and dawn choruses by adult males serve to space out groups.

Single young born after a 5-month gestation, with offspring are produced about every 20 months. Young become fully mature in about 4-6 years. Their life span in captivity is upwards of 23 years.

Classification

There are several distinct subspecies of this colobus:[1]

* Colobus guereza guereza
* Colobus guereza occidentalis
* Colobus guereza dodingae
* Mt. Uarges Guereza or Percival's Black-and-white Colobus, Colobus guereza percivali
* Colobus guereza matschiei
* Colobus guereza kikuyuensis
* Colobus guereza caudatus or Kilimanjaro Guereza

References

1. ^ a b Groves, C. (2005). Wilson, D. E., & Reeder, D. M, eds. ed. Mammal Species of the World (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 168. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. OCLC 62265494. http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3/browse.asp?id=12100605.
2. ^ a b Kingdon, J., Struhsaker, T., Oates, J. F., Hart, J. & Groves, C. P. (2008). Colobus guereza. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 4 January 2009.
3. ^ Wolfheim, J.H. (1983) Primates Of The World: Distribution, Abundance And Conservation Routledge ISBN 3718601907

Colobus guereza kikuyuensis