Body Parts of a Colobus Monkey
There are many different species of Colobus, which is a group of Old World monkeys. All variations of Colobus monkeys are native to the forests of Africa. They are well-adapted for arboreal life and will rarely travel to the forest floor. The Colobus monkey, like most primates, as of 2009, are at risk of extinction because rapid deforestation as well as the bushmeat trade.
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Fur
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Spending most of their lives in trees, Colobus monkeys often need to jump long distances to get from treetop to treetop. The long hair on the shoulders of the Colobus monkey can fan out like a parachute to cause some drag, aiding deceleration as the animal descends.
Light-weight Bones
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Another adaptation that helps Colobus monkeys to easily jump through the air is their light-weight bone structure. Like the bones of birds, Colobus bones are lighter which allows them to more easily jump from tree to tree.
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Elongated Limbs
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Colobus monkeys have elongated limbs that are well-adapted for swinging through tree branches. Colobus monkeys use some brachiation, which is a form of locomotion using only the arms to swing from branch to branch.
Unique Hands
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The word colobus is derived from the Greek word meaning mutilated. This name refers to the Colobus monkey's unique hands that have four fingers and lack a thumb. This hook-like hand structure aids in swinging quickly between tree branches.
Disruptive Coloration
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Colobus monkey coloration varies from species to species and can include black, white, red and brown. One thing they all have in common is that they are not one solid color, but rather they have "disruptive coloration," meaning different colors on different parts of the body. Disruptive coloration is a form of camouflage that helps the monkeys blend in with the treetops.
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