Ursine Colobus

• Common Name: Ursine Colobus
• Taxonomy Classification Year: 1834
• Monkey Size: 61 to 66 cm (24 to 26 in)
• Skin Color(s): Black
• Habitat: Savanna or grassland, forest, rainforest
• Diet: Omnivorous
• Native Countries: Benin, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Togo, Burkina Faso

The white-thighed colobus^[1] (Colobus vellerosus), also known as ursine colobus, white-thighed black-and-white colobus, and Geoffroy’s black-and-white colobus, is a species of primate in the Cercopithecidae family.

• It is found in Benin, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Togo, and southern Burkina Faso. Its natural habitat is tropical or subtropical moist lowland forests.
• White-thighed colobus monkeys have muscular bodies covered in long, glossy black fur except for their silvery thighs.
• Their black faces are elongated with two prominent eyes, a flat nose, and thin black lips. Black ears rest on its head.
• White hair frames the face, making this monkey look like a sage. The white fur band over the eyes is shaped differently in each monkey. It is a helpful feature for identifying individuals in a group.
• Its hands are perfectly articulated, with an underdeveloped thumb, long fingers, and shiny black nails. Their feet have long toes and an opposable “big toe“.
• Rump calluses are common in white-thighed colobus monkeys and provide a cushion for perching on hard branches.
• Its long, slightly bushy white tail is helpful for balance in trees. Babies are born entirely white except for the face, ears, and fingers. They switch to adult coloring after 3 to 4 months.

According to the African Journal of ecology^[§], Lions (Panthera leo) and Leopards (Panthera pardus) are the primary predators of Ursine Colobus monkeys in the wild.

• White-thighed colobus monkeys are diurnal and primarily arboreal (although they may occasionally move on the ground between foraging areas on the savannah).
• They use different roosting sites each night, some near feeding sites. They can be nests made out of leaves, holes, or branches in a tree, usually selected where there is less risk of predators.
• It seems that adult women spend more time grooming themselves than adult men. However, neither females nor males are very affectionate.
• White-thighed colobus monkeys live in groups that vary significantly in size, from 5 or 7 to more than 30 individuals. These groups can be mixed (several males and several females), solitary males (one male and several females and juveniles), or all males.
• Adult male white-thighed colobus monkeys use loud roars to call their territory and location. The roar can be multiple times and in concert with other groups, especially in the mornings.