Mantled guereza

The mantled guereza, also known as the guereza or the Abyssinian black-and-white colobus, is a striking monkey native to west central and east Africa. It is easily recognized by its black body adorned with beautiful white fringes of hair, known as a mantle. This diurnal primate primarily inhabits trees, subsisting on a diet that includes leaves, seeds, fruits, and, occasionally, arthropods.

First described by Eduard Rüppell in the 19th century, the mantled guereza belongs to the Colobinae subfamily, which consists of leaf-eating monkeys. There are several subspecies of the mantled guereza, each with distinct appearances and distributions across equatorial Africa. Typically, these monkeys exhibit a black body with elegant white fringes. Interestingly, infants are born with pink skin and white fur, which darken as they mature.

These monkeys thrive in both deciduous and evergreen forests and demonstrate remarkable adaptability to disturbed habitats, particularly secondary forests near water. While their diet mainly comprises leaves and fruits, they are known to consume a variety of foods. Predators of the mantled guereza include birds of prey, common chimpanzees, and leopards.

Mantled guerezas live in stable social groups led by a dominant male, accompanied by several females and their young. They communicate through various vocalizations, including loud roars, and use body postures to convey messages. Their mating system is polygynous, with one male mating with multiple females. Newborns rely heavily on their mothers for care and support.

Despite being listed as Least Concern by the IUCN due to their widespread distribution, some subspecies of the mantled guereza face significant threats from hunting and habitat degradation. Although they can survive in degraded forests, their populations are still at risk from human activities such as hunting for bushmeat and the skin trade. Conservation efforts are essential to ensure the survival of this remarkable species.