Named for the male's long and pendulous nose, the proboscis monkey is red-brown with pale underparts. The nose is smaller in the female and is upturned in the young. Males are 56–72 cm (22–28 inches) long and average 20 kg (44 pounds), but females weigh only about 10 kg (22 pounds).
What does a large nose mean in proboscis society?
It turns out that male proboscis monkeys with large noses tend to be bulkier than their small-nosed kin. Larger noses also alter the males' mating calls in ways that signal their visual attractiveness. The bigger the nose a male proboscis monkey has, the likelier it is that he'll have a large, multi-female harem.21 Feb 2018
What role does the proboscis monkey play in the ecosystem?
Ecosystem Roles As herbivores, they probably have some affect on plant populations. To the extent that predators rely on these animals for food, proboscis monkey populations may affect predators.
What is unique about the proboscis monkey?
Proboscis monkeys have an unusual trait not seen in many other species of monkey - they can swim. Using their partially-webbed toes and fingers, they are able to escape predators and cross rivers to find food.
Why should we protect the proboscis monkeys?
Nearly half of all primate species are threatened with extinction, with habitat destruction acting as the key driving force. New research studied proboscis monkeys from 2004 to 2014, finding that the protection of swamp forests is vital for their survival.2 Jan 2019
Why is the monkey important?
Monkeys play an important role in their native habitats by pollinating flowers and dispersing seeds as they travel. Some monkeys can swim; their webbed toes help them paddle through the water, and they may swim across a stream or river to avoid predators or get to food.
Are proboscis monkeys good pets?
No, this species does not make a good pet. In fact, monkeys in general are not good pets. They have very specific social and dietary needs. It is also illegal to own a proboscis monkey as a pet in most places.
What is a proboscis monkeys behavior?
Behavior. Proboscis monkeys are diurnal, preferring to be active from late afternoon until dark. They are primarily arboreal although they are never more than 600 m from a river. When moving through the trees, they are quadrupedal. These monkeys are good swimmers and will leap out of the trees into the water.
Why is the proboscis monkey in danger?
Proboscis monkeys have declined at a rate of approximately 50% in the last 40 years, according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This is as a result of habitat destruction for logging and oil palm plantations, but hunting for food and traditional Chinese medicine also occur.
What are proboscis monkeys good at?
Proboscis monkeys are the primate world's most prolific swimmers, frequently leaping from tree limbs and hitting the water with a comical belly flop. They've evolved webbed feet and hands to help them outpace the crocodiles that are some of their main predators.
Is a proboscis monkey endangered?
EndangeredPopulation decreasing
Why are proboscis monkeys hunted?
They are often hunted for food, most significantly in the Bornean interior, but it is now increasing to coastal regions. They are also hunted for bezoar stones found in intestinal secretion, which is used in traditional Chinese medicine. Even living in a protected area does not guarantee survival for proboscis monkeys.