Mammals · Primates · Cercopithecidae

Guereza

Colobus guereza

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

It has no functional thumbs — hence 'colobus', from the Greek for 'mutilated' — an adaptation that gives it a more efficient grip on branches.

Weight

4 kg – 23 kg

Size

48 cm – 75 cm

Lifespan

20 years

Diet

Herbivore

Feeds mainly on plants.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

Family group

Lives in small family groups with close bonds.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

RainforestHerbivore Diurnal Family group Rainforest Mammal

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Fun facts

Its long white cape of fur works like a parachute during its spectacular leaps between trees.
It feeds mainly on young leaves, supplemented with fruit, flowers, shoots and bark.
It is the most arboreal monkey in Africa.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Lowland and montane tropical forest of equatorial Africa; the most arboreal monkey in Africa
Birth weight: ~0.4 kg at birth, entirely white-furred with a pink face
Size at birth: ~0.4 kg at birth, 20 cm from head to body
Sexual maturity: Female: ~4 years | Male: ~6 years
Gestation / incubation: ~6 months (4-6 months depending on the source)
Litter / clutch size: 1 young per birth, with intervals of up to 20 months
Lifespan in captivity: Documented record of up to 29-30 years

Sources consulted: Potawatomi Zoo; Animal Fact Guide; SeaWorld/United Parks; Animal Diversity Web; Los Angeles Zoo; Gorilla Trackings; Idaho Falls (Minnesota Zoo source); Wikipedia (Mantled guereza)