guereza

The mantled guereza, Colobus guereza, is a large African primate in the family Cercopithecidae. It is known for its black fur accented by a long white mantle over the shoulders and back, and a white beard. The tail is long and often pale at the tip.

Distribution and habitat: Mantled guerezas range across sub-Saharan Africa, from West and Central Africa to East Africa. They inhabit forests and woodland, including riverine and secondary forests. They are primarily arboreal and diurnal, spending most of their time in trees.

Diet and digestion: They are folivores, feeding mainly on leaves but also on fruit, flowers, and seeds. They have a specialized foregut fermentation system that allows efficient digestion of fibrous leaves.

Social structure: Groups typically include several females with their offspring and one or more adult males. They communicate with vocalizations, grooming, and scent marking, and are generally peaceful but defend their territory through displays.

Reproduction: Breeding is not strictly seasonal. Females usually give birth to a single infant after a gestation of about five to six months; the infant clings to the mother and is cared for by group members during early life.

Conservation: The mantled guereza is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, owing to its wide distribution and large population. Local declines result from habitat loss, fragmentation, and hunting, but the species remains common in suitable habitats.