Colobinae is a subfamily of the Old World monkey family that includes 58 species in 10 genera, including the skunk-like black-and-white colobus, the large-nosed Proboscis Monkey, and the gray langurs, sacred to India. Some classifications split the colobine monkeys into two tribes, while others split them into three groups. Both classifications put the two African genera Colobus and Piliocolobus in one group; the two genera are distinct in that they have a stub thumb. The various Asian genera are placed into another one or two groups. Analysis of mtDNA confirms that the Asian species form two distinct groups, one of langurs and the other of the "odd-nosed" species, but suggests that the gray langurs are not closely related to either (Sterner et al., 2006).
Colobines are medium-sized primates with long tails and diverse colorations. The coloring of nearly all the young animals differs remarkably from that of the adults.
Most species are arboreal, although some live a more terrestrial life. They are found in many different habitats of different climate zones (rain forests, mangroves, mountain forests, and savanah), but not in deserts and other dry areas. They live in groups, but in different group forms.
They are almost exclusively herbivores, predominantly nourishing themselves on leaves, flowers, and fruits. They occasionally eat insects and other small animals. To aid in digestion, particularly of hard-to-digest leaves, they have a multipart, complex stomach. Unlike the other subfamily of Old World monkeys, the Cercopithecinae, they possess no cheek pouches.
Gestation averages six to seven months. Young are weaned for approximately one year and are mature at 3 to 6 years. Their life expectancy is approximately 20 years.
Classification
Hybrids
Intergeneric hybrids are known to occur within the Colobinae subfamily. In India, gray langurs (Semnopithecus sp) are known to hybridize with Nilgiri Langurs (Trachypithecus johnii).[3]
References
- ^ a b Groves, C. (2005-11-16). in Wilson, D. E., and Reeder, D. M. (eds): Mammal Species of the World, 3rd edition, Johns Hopkins University Press, 167-178. ISBN 0-801-88221-4.
- ^ Sterner, Kirstin N.; Raaum, Ryan L.; Zhang, Ya-Ping; Stewart, Caro-Beth & Disotell, Todd R. (2006). "Mitochondrial data support an odd-nosed colobine clade". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 40 (1): 1–7. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2006.01.017.
- ^ Rowe, N. (1996). The Pictorial Guide to the Living Primates. Pogonias Press, 139, 143, 154, 185, 223. ISBN 0-9648825-0-7.
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