Proboscis Monkey

PROBOSCIS MONKEY

Long-nosed monkey, Bekantan, Monyet belanda monkey

KINGDOM         Animalia

PHYLUM           Chordata

SUBPHYLUM   Vertebrata

CLASS              Mammalia

ORDER             Primates

SUBORDER     Haplorhini

INFRAORDER  Simiiformes

FAMILY    Cercopithecidae

GENUS.            Nasalis

SPECIES  Nasalis larvatus

POPULATION SIZE

UNKNOWN

LIFE SPAN

13-23 YRS

TOP SPEED

24 KM/H

WEIGHT

7-22.5 KG

LENGTH

53-76 CM

The Proboscis monkey is an Old World monkey with a characteristic long nose that distinguishes this animal from other monkeys. As a matter of fact, another name of this primate is 'Monyet belanda' monkey, literally meaning 'long-nosed' monkey. When first seeing this animal, people didn't suppose it was a monkey because of its rather unusual appearance. Thus, males of this species exhibit extremely long noses of up to 7 inches, which are likely to attract females whose noses are usually shorter. Another important characteristic of Proboscis monkeys is their diverse color patters, varying from bright orange to yellow or pink. Additionally, newborn Proboscis monkey display blue faces that turn to cream color as they grow up.

Distribution

These animals are native and endemic exclusively to the island of Borneo in the southeastern Asia, where they generally live in coastal areas, covered with mangroves and swamp forests. Other suitable habitats include lowlands along rivers as well as riparian forests and rainforests. Proboscis monkeys typically live in close proximity to water bodies of their home range.

Habits and Lifestyle

Proboscis monkeys are highly social animals, forming troops of 2 - 30 animals, typically consisting of a single dominant male and multiple (up to 10) females with their offspring. Males defend their group by exposing their teeth and emitting loud, honking signals, while females are responsible for foraging and caring for infants. In areas with sufficient food or close to the water these troops may occasionally unite in larger aggregations. During these times, groups of Proboscis monkeys rest and sleep among mangroves at the edge of the water. The presence of freshwater bodies such as swamps or rivers is the primary life condition for these animals. Proboscis monkeys are accomplished swimmers. Moreover, when foraging or fleeing from a threat, they are able to take deep dives.

Fun Facts

·       1. The bulging stomachs of these animals look like pot bellies.

·       2. Proboscis monkeys grow this pot belly due to their diet of low-quality leaves. In order to get enough energy, they have to eat large amounts of these leaves, which enlarge their stomachs.

·       3. Proboscis monkeys consume only unripe fruits, since ripe fruits contain sugar that will ferment in their stomachs, leading to fatal bloating.

·       4. A group of Proboscis monkeys is referred to as a ‘band’ or ‘harem’.

·       5. When swimming, these primates use a wide variety of techniques such as hitting the water from their bellies.

·       6. They can pass distances of up to 20 meters (65.6 feet) when swimming underwater.

·       7. When feeling danger, these monkeys may dive into the water for shelter.

·       8. The massive noses of male individuals help them produce loud bellowing sounds, which serve as alarm signals as well as attract females.

·       9. These animals possess some webbed toes.

References

1. Proboscis Monkey Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proboscis_monkey

2. Proboscis Monkey on The IUCN Red List site - http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/14352/0

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