This species is found in far western Africa, from southern Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, east to the Sassandra River in Côte d’Ivoire (Kingdon 1997; Groves 2005).

A possible subspecies C. p. dollmani is found east of the Sassandra River, but is probably a hybrid with C. vellerosus in this very narrow contact zone up to the Bandama River.

Individuals of the genus Colobus are typically found in tropical rain forests (lowland and montane types) of Africa, in the countries of Senegal, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Congo, Malawi, Uganda and Zambia. Colobus polykomos is limited to a range from Gambia to the Ivory Coast.

Biogeographic Regions: ethiopian (Native )

Males, on average, weigh approximately 9.90 kg, whereas a typical female is near 8.30 kg. Head and body length range from 450 to 720 mm, tail length from 520 to 1,000 mm. Colobus polykomos has white markings like most other species within the genus Colobus, however, this species is distinctive in that the chest and whiskers are white while the rest of the body is black. Further, the tail is entirely white and not tufted (Nowak, 1999). Colobus polykomos is slender- bodied with a long tail and prominant rump callosities. A complex sacculated stomach is present, but cheek pouches are absent. The thumb is reduced to a mere tubercle, the skull is somewhat prognathous, and the orbits are oval with narrow superciliary ridges (Nowak, 1999). The nostrils are lengthened by an extension of the nasal skin and may extend to nearly the mouth.

Range mass: 5 to 14 kg.

Range length: 450 to 720 mm.

Other Physical Features: endothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry

Sexual Dimorphism: male larger

Habitat and Ecology

Systems

• Terrestrial

Most African forests in which C. polykomos is found experience prolonged and pronounced dry seasons. Most of the forest lies within 10 degrees of the equator and is characterized by two rainfall peaks interspersed with two relatively dry periods--one short and one long. Much of the African moist forest zone is dominated by a single leguminous tree species. At present, much of C. polykomos habitat has been overrun by farming (especially rice cultivation) and tree cutting. This being the case, these areas typically support a variable array of young secondary forest. The old secondary forest (60% of the habitat) is dominated by the leguminous trees.

Habitat Regions: tropical ; terrestrial

Terrestrial Biomes: forest ; rainforest ; scrub forest

Although C. polykomos is generally highly arboreal, members of this species are found to feed on the ground. Colobus groups typically have a daily foraging path of only about 500 meters. The diet consists mostly of leaves, but fruits and flowers can be more/less important depending upon the season (Nowak, 1999).

Plant Foods: leaves; seeds, grains, and nuts; fruit; flowers

Primary Diet: herbivore (Folivore )

These monkeys probably have some impact on their ecosystem. As a potential prey species, the abundance of these monkeys may affect the abundance of predators. In addition, their reliance on leafy vegetations, fruits and seeds, may affect the plant community, especially by dispersing seeds.

Ecosystem Impact: disperses seeds

Predators of these colobus monkeys are not reported. However, because of the size of these monkeys and their arboreal habits, likely predators include raptors and leopards. Large snakes might also take young animals.

Communication in most primates is complex, involving visual signals (such as facial expressions and body postures), vocalizations, and different forms of physical contact ( such reassurance gestures, aggression, grooming). It is likely that these monkeys employ all means of communication listed above.

Communication Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic

Perception Channels: visual ; acoustic

The maximum longevity reported for this species is 23.5 years in captivity. Wild life spans are not known with certainty, but are likely to be lower than this.

Range lifespan

Status: captivity: 23.5 (high) years.

Average lifespan

Status: captivity: 23.0 years.

Average lifespan

Status: captivity: 27.5 years.

Average lifespan

Status: wild: 30.5 years.

Average lifespan

Status: wild: 26.0 years.

Average lifespan

Sex: male

Status: captivity: 24.0 years.

Maximum longevity: 33.9 years (captivity) Observations: One captive female was 33.9 years old when she died (Richard Weigl 2005). Estimates of the age at sexual maturity range from 2 years (Virginia Hayssen et al. 1993) to nearly 7 years (Ernest 2003).

The mating system has been described as 'unimale'--one male mating with several females, as well as 'multimale' where multiple males mate with multiple females.

Mating System: polygynous ; polygynandrous (promiscuous)

There is conflicting evidence regarding seasonality of reproduction. In some groups, C. polykomos has been observed to give birth year round, but in others the birth season coincides with the dry season (December-May). This is thought to occur as a result of the greater availability of fruit as well as access to crops and human provisioning.

The gestation period of this species is 175 days on average, and the interbirth interval is approximately 24 months. Females, on average, produce 1 offspring every 20 months (Nowak, 1999) and reach sexual maturity at approximately 2 years of age.

Breeding interval: Colobus polykomos breed once every two years.

Breeding season: Data on breeding seasonality is somewhat conflicting, with some populations breeding year round, and others breeding so that births occur during the rainy season.

Average number of offspring: 1.

Average gestation period: 175 days.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 2 years.

Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); viviparous

Average birth mass: 708.5 g.

Average gestation period: 185 days.

Average number of offspring: 1.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male)

Sex: male: 730 days.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female)

Sex: female: 1642 days.

As in all primates, females are primarily responsible for the care of offspring. Females provide their young with milk, protection, and grooming. Young are not able to walk immediately, and must be carried for some time. The role of males in parental care has not been reported.

Parental Investment: altricial ; pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-independence (Protecting: Female)

Year Assessed

Assessor/s

Reviewer/s

Justification

History

• 1996
  Lower Risk/near threatened
• 1994
  Vulnerable
  (Groombridge 1994)

Colobus polykomos is considered to be highly endangered because of habitat destruction and hunting. Habitat destruction occurs through subsistance farming, commercial agricultural development and selective logging. Colobus polykomos is also extremely vulnerable to hunting by humans, both for their meat and fur.

Attempts at maintaining this species in captivity has largely failed, most probably because of their digestive peculiarities. Instead, it is important to manage C. polykomos habitat forests effectively and prevent any further habitat destruction in order to protect and conserve them.

CITES: appendix ii

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: vulnerable

Population

Population Trend

Major Threats

Conservation Actions

Their numbers are so low as to have little to no effect on humans whatsoever.

In the nineteenth century, C. polykomos was hunted by humans extensively for use of its fur . More recently, however, C. polykomos has provided little economic benefit for humans. They could be considered important in ways other than economically, however, due to the fact that they are ecologically, anatomically and socially interesting.