Results: Snub-nosed monkey

(Sources: livescience.com, arkive.org and National Geographic) The Yunnan snub-nosed monkey is the most endangered of China's three snub-nosed monkey species. The long, shaggy coat is mainly black on the back, arms and legs and white on the front. White hair is also present on the flanks and this is particularly long on the adult males. The lips are a deep pink, whilst the face is paler and there are yellowish-grey hairs on the shoulders. These monkeys get their common name for their unusual noses; the nasal bones are absent and the nostrils are upturned. Young are born white but become grey over several months. Have you ever been near a snut-nosed monkey?

These monkeys are not that big. Head-body length: 51 - 83 cm. Tail length: 52 – 75 cm. Male weight: 15 – 17 kg. Female weight: 9.2 – 12 kg. Can you mention any other monkeys which are about the same size?

The diet of the Yunnan snub-nosed monkey is composed primarily of lichens. Lichen is an abundant and easy to digest food source but it is relatively poor nutritionally; this unusual diet has led to other aspects of behavior that are unique amongst tree-dwelling primates. For example, large groups of up to 300 individuals have been observed, probably as a result of low food competition between members. These troops appear to be made up of small family groups consisting of an adult male, three to five females and their offspring, although the whole troop will tend to travel and rest together. Are lichens easy to find where you live?

Reliance on lichen, which can take between 10 to 15 years to regenerate, has also caused these monkeys to have a more wandering way of life. A troop will cover around 1,500 meters in one day and their home range reaches as much as 25 square kilometers. The birth rate is also low for this species; scientists estimate that a female gives birth about once every three years. Did you know that some monkeys could take such a long time to give birth to another baby?