Pennant's colobus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pennant's colobus |
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Piliocolobus
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| Species: |
pennantii
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| Pennant's colobus range | |
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Piliocolobus pennantii |
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The Pennant's colobus or Pennant's red colobus (Piliocolobus pennantii) is a type of monkey that lives in trees. It belongs to the Cercopithecidae family. This monkey is only found in certain parts of tropical Central Africa. It lives in separate areas, which is a bit of a mystery to scientists. One group lives on Bioko Island in Equatorial Guinea. Another group is found in the Niger River Delta in southern Nigeria. A third group lives in the eastern part of the Republic of Congo. These monkeys live in rainforests and swampy forests. They are in danger because their homes are disappearing and people hunt them for food.
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About the Pennant's Colobus
The Pennant's colobus was first described in 1838. A scientist named George Robert Waterhouse named it after a naturalist and traveler, Thomas Pennant.
The word "colobus" comes from the Greek word κολοβός. This means "cut short." These monkeys are called this because they have very small thumbs, or sometimes no thumbs at all. To help them climb, they have four long fingers. These fingers line up to form a strong hook. This allows them to easily grab branches and climb trees.
What Do Pennant's Colobus Monkeys Look Like?
Pennant's red colobus monkeys are medium-sized. Their head and body are about 53 to 63 centimeters (21 to 25 inches) long. Their tail is even longer, about 60 to 70 centimeters (24 to 28 inches). They usually weigh between 7 and 10 kilograms (15 to 22 pounds).
They have a small head and a strong body with long arms and legs. Their long fingers help them grip branches tightly for climbing. Unlike most monkeys, they do not have thumbs. Their fur can be black or a shade of brown. Their face, arms, and legs are often chestnut-brown or reddish. Their belly is usually pale. The black face has long hair on top, often parted in the middle. These monkeys have a long tail that helps them balance. However, they cannot use their tail to grab things.
Where Do Pennant's Colobus Monkeys Live?
Pennant's red colobus monkeys live in several places in western Central Africa. One group lives only on Bioko Island. This island is about 32 kilometers (20 miles) off the coast of Equatorial Guinea. These monkeys mostly live in the southwestern part of the island. Their total home area is less than 500 square kilometers (193 square miles). Scientists believe fewer than 5,000 of these monkeys exist on Bioko Island. Their numbers dropped a lot between 1986 and 2006.
Another group, called the Bouvier's red colobus, lives in the Republic of Congo. They are found near the Congo River and its smaller rivers. The Niger Delta red colobus lives in the wet forests of the Niger Delta region in Nigeria.
Pennant's red colobus monkeys live in trees. They can be found in both old, untouched forests and forests that have grown back. They also live in swampy forests.
Life and Habits of Pennant's Colobus
Like other red colobus monkeys, Pennant's red colobus lives in groups. These groups can have 12 to 80 monkeys. They live in an area of 25 to 150 hectares (62 to 370 acres). Each group has several males, more females, and many young monkeys. They move quickly through the treetops. They leap from tree to tree, using the springiness of the branches to help them. A baby monkey is usually born after about five months of pregnancy.
Scientists have not studied Pennant's red colobus monkeys very much. However, their diet is probably similar to other red colobus monkeys. They mainly eat fresh leaves. They also eat flowers, fruit, and seeds. They have special teeth that can chew up leaves and break apart tough, unripe fruit and the seeds inside. Their stomach has many parts, which helps them digest leaves. This means they can eat a lot of leaves or a lot of seeds. They often choose leaves that have a lot of protein and not much of a bitter substance called tannin. One of their favorite food trees is Fleroya ledermannii.
Status and Conservation
The Pennant's colobus on Bioko Island is listed as "Endangered" by the IUCN. This means it is at high risk of extinction. Their home area is small, and their numbers are decreasing. This is because people hunt them for food. In 2006, there were thought to be fewer than 5,000 of these monkeys on Bioko Island.
The Niger Delta red colobus is listed as "Critically Endangered". This is the highest risk level. Their home in the Niger Delta is being damaged by logging, and people hunt them for food. Their population has dropped by 80% in 30 years.
The Bouvier's red colobus has also seen a huge drop in numbers. It is also listed as "Critically Endangered." For a long time, it was thought to be possibly extinct because no one had seen it since the 1970s. But in 2015, it was spotted and photographed in a national park in the Republic of the Congo! This was the first photo ever taken of this monkey. Even with this rediscovery, this type of monkey is still likely very close to extinction.
