Knowra Proboscis monkey Proboscis monkey The proboscis monkey is a large, leaf-eating primate native to Borneo. Males have prominent pendulous noses, and the species is known for swimming and living near waterways.
Colobinae : A subfamily of Old World monkeys whose members have specialized stomachs for digesting leaves. Proboscis monkeys belong to this leaf-eating monkey subfamily.
Folivory : A feeding strategy in which leaves make up a substantial part of an animal’s diet. Leaves form the core of the proboscis monkey’s diet.
Wildlife conservation : The protection and management of wild species, habitats, and ecological processes. Conservation efforts address the species’ shrinking and fragmented habitat.
Endangered species : A species facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild. The proboscis monkey is classified as Endangered because its population is declining.
Old World monkey : A diverse group of primates native to Africa and Asia, including macaques, baboons, and colobines. This broader primate group places the proboscis monkey among its Asian members.
Foregut fermentation : Microbial breakdown of food in stomach chambers located before the small intestine. Fermentation in its enlarged stomach helps digest fibrous leaves.
Habitat fragmentation : The division of continuous habitat into smaller, isolated patches. Logging and land conversion can separate groups and restrict movement between habitats.
Deforestation in Borneo : The removal of forest across Borneo through logging, agriculture, and other land conversion. Forest clearance reduces and degrades the monkey’s habitat.
Ruminant-like digestion : A multichambered digestive process in which microbes ferment plant matter before it is fully digested. Its complex stomach helps extract nutrients from leaves.
Arboreal locomotion : Movement through trees by climbing, leaping, or traveling along branches. Most feeding and resting take place in trees along rivers and coasts.
Show all 22