Colobinae

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iColobine monkeys
Javan Langur (Trachypithecus auratus)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Primates Superfamily: Cercopithecoidea Family: Cercopithecidae Subfamily: Colobinae Jerdon, 1867
Genera
Colobus Piliocolobus Procolobus Trachypithecus Presbytis Semnopithecus Pygathrix Rhinopithecus Nasalis Simias

Colobinae is a subfamily of the Old World monkey family that includes 58 species in 10 genera, including the skunk-like black-and-white colobus, the large-nosed Proboscis Monkey, and the gray langurs, sacred to India. Some classifications split the colobine monkeys into two tribes, while others split them into three groups. Both classifications put the two African genera Colobus and Piliocolobus in one group, both genera distinct in that they have a stub thumb. The various Asian genera are placed into one or two other groups. Analysis of mtDNA confirms that the Asian species form two distinct groups, one of which contains langurs, with the "odd-nosed" species in the other, but suggests that the gray langurs are not too closely related to either (Sterner et al., 2006).

Colobines are medium sized primates with long tails and diverse colorations. It is remarkable that nearly all of the young animals differ in their coloring substantially from the adults.

Most species are arboreal, although some live a more terrestrial life. They are found in many different habitats of the different climate zones (rain forests, mangroves, mountain forests and savanah), but not in deserts and other dry areas. They live in groups, but in different group forms.

They are almost exclusively herbivores, which predominantly nourish themselves on leaves, flowers and fruits. They occasionally eat insects and other small animals. To aid in digestion, particularly for hard to digest leaves, they have a multipart, complex stomach. Unlike the other subfamily of Old World monkeys, the Cercopithecinae, they possess no cheek pouches.

Gestation averages six to seven month. Young are weaned for approximately one year and are mature at 3 to 6 years. Their life expectancy is approximately 20 years.

[edit] Classification

• FAMILY CERCOPITHECIDAE
  • Subfamily Cercopithecinae
  • Subfamily Colobinae
    • African group
      • Genus Colobus - black-and-white colobus monkeys
      • Genus Piliocolobus - red colobus monkeys
      • Genus Procolobus - Olive Colobus
    • Langur (leaf monkey) group
      • Genus Trachypithecus - lutungs
      • Genus Presbytis - surilis
      • Genus Semnopithecus - gray langurs
    • Odd-Nosed group
      • Genus Pygathrix - doucs
      • Genus Rhinopithecus - snub-nosed monkeys
      • Genus Nasalis - Proboscis Monkey
      • Genus Simias - Pig-tailed Langur

[edit] References

• Groves, Colin (16 November 2005). Wilson, D. E., and Reeder, D. M. (eds): Mammal Species of the World, 3rd edition, Johns Hopkins University Press, 167-178. ISBN 0-801-88221-4.
• Sterner, Kirstin N.; Raaum, Ryan L.; Zhang, Ya-Ping; Stewart, Caro-Beth & Disotell, Todd R. (2006): Mitochondrial data support an odd-nosed colobine clade. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 40(1): 1–7. DOI:10.1016/j.ympev.2006.01.017 PDf fulltext