Colobus Monkeys - Thumbless Vegetarians
Colobus Monkeys - Thumbless Vegetarians
By Duncan Butchart
Living Library
Wildwatch.com
Africa has a rich diversity of primates, with the apes (gorillas, chimpanzees and us) and monkeys (guenons, baboons and colobus) forming the major diurnal groups. With one exception, all of these primate families are omnivorous, feeding on both plant and animal matter.
The 14 species of colobus monkeys are entirely vegetarian and have anatomical adaptations suited to this way of life. One trait which all of them share is the absence of a thumb, which prevents them from grasping moving objects. They also have a large complex stomach which can hold a third of their bodyweight in food, and possesses chemicals able to break down cellulose and detoxify plant compounds.
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