Colobus satanas
black colobus

Tropical forests in Western Africa in Cameroon, Gabon and Bioko Island.

Lowland rainforest

These monkeys have dark skin under a long black coat of fur and a long black tail. They have a short face, and a deep jaw with large canines and sharp, crushing molars. They have long fingers, but do not have thumbs on their hands. Males can weigh ~11kg.

Although infants are coddled and taken good care of, there is a high infant mortality rate, because many times the adult male of the group forces the juvenile males to leave the group before they are ready to do so.

These colobines spend much of their time on the ground as quadrupeds, though occasionally they do swing through the canopy, for example during the food-scarce season when they must eat more mature leaves in order to suplement thier diet. They have a low population density over large ranges, with densities of about 25-30 individuals/km and a home range that can be as large as 60ha. They are matrilineal. They are usually found in groups of 6-8 individuals, consisting of one adult male and ~6 adult, breeding females, as well as infants and juvenile males. In this species males disperse.

Although these monkeys have been found to be the most "laid back" and inactive of the colobines, they do have dominance heirarchies and are territorial. It has been found that at least 57% of their time is spent in relative inactivity.

Female Black colobus monkeys cooperate with each other and spend much time grooming each other.

The favorite food of this species is seeds. They usually feed on the ground. They also feed on the leaves of Lianas (climbing vines) and on immature leaves. These monkeys are usually classified as granivores, but when their favorite foods are scarce they will feed on other things such as mature leaves. They have also been known to eat immature fruit and flowers. They have been found to injest soil which has high amounts of sodium in it.

Some anti-predator adaptations are climbing into trees when there is danger, and keeping quiet.

This species has been hunted for its fur, as well as for food in Africa, and also for rituals.

These are one of ten most endangered African Primate species. Because this species is so specialized in its eating habits, it is highly vulnerable to habitat destruction brought about by extensive logging operations. Also, for many years, humans have been hunting them for their fur, as well as for food.

This species range originally included the tropical forests in Guinea, and the Island of Fernando Poo.

C. satanas used to be grouped together in one species with C. polykomos, C.vellerosus, C.guereza, and C. angolensis.

It has been said that C. satanas is the most "primitive" of the African colobus monkeys.