Physical
Characteristics
The Columbus monkey has distinct
features dotting a beautiful black fur and a long white mantle,
whiskers and beard around the face and the bushy white tail. The name
- Columbus - is derived from the
Greek word for “mutilated,” because unlike other monkeys, Columbus
monkeys do not have thumbs. The Eastern Africa black-and-white
Columbus monkey is
distinguishable by a U-shaped cape of white hair running from the
shoulders to lower back, whereas the Angolan black-and-white has
white hairs flaring out only at the shoulders.
Habitation
Two types of black and white Columbus monkeys are found in Kenya
those that inhabit the dense coastal forests and those found inland
high altitude
areas. Red Columbus monkeys are also found in East Africa, but quite
sparingly. Two other types of Columbus monkeys in Africa are the
black and the olive.
The Columbus lives in all types of closed forests, including montane
and gallery forests. Bamboo stands are also popular dwelling spots
for the Columbus.
Behavior and Habits
The Columbus is the most arboreal of all African monkeys and rarely
descends to the ground. It uses branches as trampolines, jumping up
and down on them to get liftoff for leaps of up to 50 feet. They
leap up and then drop downward, falling with outstretched arms and
legs to grab the next branch. Their mantle hair and tails are
believed to act as a parachute during these long leaps.
Columbus monkeys live in troops of about 5 to 10 animals including a dominant
male, several females, and young ones. Each troop has its own
defined territory
which is well defended from other troops. Adult troop
members, especially males, make croaking roars that can be heard
resonating throughout the forest.
Infighting over mates rarely occurs. There is no distinct breeding
season although most mating probably occurs during rainy season.
Because a female suckles her infant for over a year, an average of
20 months passes before she gives birth again. Other troop members
often handle very young infants. In the first month when the infant
still has a pink face, it may be handled three to five times an hour
in resting groups. Infant mortality is high even though the young
are carefully tended.
The newborn Columbus monkey is covered with white fur, and at about 1
month gradually begins to change color, finally gaining the black
and white adult coloration at about 3 months. The infant monkey is
carried on the mother's abdomen, where it clings on to her fur. As it
matures it spends a lot of time playing with its mother and certain
other adults and at about 7 months begins playing with other
juveniles. The games they play exercise their bodies, and as they
get older, these develop into wrestling matches and mock displays.
Diet
Columbus monkeys are strictly leaf-eaters and spend most of their
time in treetops, preferring to eat the tender young leaves found
there. However, complex stomachs enable them to digest mature or
toxic foliage that other monkeys cannot.
Predators and Threats
Sometime back the Columbus was hunted excessively for its beautiful
fur, leading to its extermination in some areas. Its skin has been
used to make dance costumes, hats and capes. Today, the greatest
threat to its continued existence comes from loss of habitat as
forests are cut down.
Thought You Should Know
Kenya