Conservation
status
Endangered (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific
classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Suborder: Haplorhini
Infraorder: Simiiformes
Family: Cercopithecidae
Genus: Nasalis
Species: N. larvatus
Binomial
name
Nasalis larvatus
FACT ABOUT
THE PROBOSCIS MONKEY
It may seem hard to believe, but
male proboscis monkeys use their fleshy, pendulous noses to attract mates.
Scientists think these outsize organs create an echo chamber that amplifies the
monkey’s call, impressing females and intimidating rival males.
Habitat and
Behavior
Proboscis monkeys are endemic to the
jungles of Borneo, never straying far from the island’s rivers, coastal
mangroves, and swamps. They are a highly arboreal species and will venture onto
land only occasionally to search for food. They live in organized harem groups
consisting of a dominant male and two to seven females and their offspring.
Various groups often congregate near water at night to sleep.
Swimming
Abilities
Proboscis monkeys are the primate
world’s most prolific swimmers, frequently leaping from tree limbs and hitting
the water with a comical belly flop. They’ve evolved webbed feet and hands to
help them outpace the crocodiles that are some of their main predators.
Size and
Appearance
Among the largest of Asia’s monkeys,
male proboscis specimens can reach 50 pounds, although females attain only
about half that size. Adults wear a coat of light brown fur that turns red
around the head and shoulders and gray at the arms, legs, and tail. Only males
develop the namesake nose.
Diet
Proboscis monkeys survive mainly on
a diet of leaves, seeds, and unripe fruits but will occasionally consume
insects as well. They have complex, chambered stomachs that rely on a host of
symbiotic bacteria for digestion.
Threats to
Survival
Unfortunately, Borneo’s most
threatened landscapes are home to these highly specialized primates. The
rampant clearing of the region’s rain forests for timber, settlement, and oil
palm plantations has depleted huge tracts of their habitat. The fragmentation
of the monkeys' range means they are being forced to descend from the trees
more frequently and often must travel perilously long distances to find food.
Their land predators include jaguars and some native peoples who consider
proboscis monkey a delicacy.
Over the last 40 years, proboscis
monkey populations have plummeted. They are currently protected from hunting or
capture in Borneo.
credit to www.nationalgeographic.com
credit to www.nationalgeographic.com
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