Zanzibar Red Colobus

• Common Name: Zanzibar Red Colobus
• Taxonomy Classification Year: 1868
• Monkey Size: 45 to 70 cm (17.72 to 27.56 in)
• Skin Color(s): Dark red to black
• Habitat: Forest, scrub forest
• Diet: Herbivorous
• Native Countries: Tanzania

The Zanzibar red colobus^[1] (Piliocolobus kirkii) is endemic to Unguja, the main island of the Zanzibar archipelago off the coast of Tanzania.

• These medium-sized monkeys have small bellies typical of leaf-eating monkeys.
• Their coat (or pelt) ranges from dark red to black and is sometimes accented by a black stripe down their shoulders and arms.
• The middle and lower back color varies from reddish brown to orange. Zanzibar Red colobus monkeys have black hands, feet, and faces with long white hair.
• Their lips and nose are pink. The abdomen or abdominal region is white to light gray.
• Babies have only black and white fur, with the introduction of red and brown pigment occurring around 3 to 5 months of age.
• Full adult coloration is not achieved until the age group of 6 to 11 months. All types of colobus monkeys have stub thumbs as well as long tails used for balance and posture.
• Their particularly long hind legs facilitate large leaps between trees, as do their long fingers, which form a hook-like grip that allows them to grasp branches quickly.

• The Zanzibar red colobus, often referred to as Kirk’s red colobus is named after Sir John Kirk, the British resident of Zanzibar who first spotted these creatures.
• Locals call it Kima Punju, which means poisonous monkey in Swahili, because of its distinctive pungent smell.
• Due to their slow digestive tract, they are the slowest of all colobus monkey species.
• Long calls consisting of howls and high-pitched cries are given to express dominance and sexual interest in females.
• Both sexes are considered promiscuous, and females mate with multiple males during estrus.