Preuss’s Red Colobus

• Common Name: Preuss’s Red Colobus
• Taxonomy Classification Year: 1900
• Monkey Size: 45 to 67 cm (17.72 to 26.38 in)
• Skin Color(s): Black
• Habitat: Forest
• Diet: Herbivorous
• Native Countries: Cameroon, Nigeria

Preuss’s red colobus^[1] (Piliocolobus preussi) is native to the Cross-Sanaga Rivers eco-region.

• Preuss’s red colobus has a black head with a gray face.
• As the name suggests, they have patches of fur in varying shades of red, with orange cheeks, orange and black backs, and dark red tails.
• Their belly, chest, and inner limbs are cream-colored.

• They are restricted to small areas in Cameroon and Nigeria but once occupied a much larger area.
• Preuss’s colobus monkeys live in groups of up to 70 individuals. However, group size can vary widely and is likely influenced by predation and habitat quality.
• The female species give birth to a child every two years after a gestation period of 4 to 6 months.
• Preuss’s red colobus monkeys likely play a role in structuring the forest ecosystem due to the amount of leaves they eat.
• The species is critically endangered due to hunting pressure and habitat destruction, according to the IUCN Red List.