colobus

Thân thiện

A colobus monkey leaps gracefully between branches in the forest canopy.

Definition

Noun 1. A type of African monkey: A colobus is an arboreal (tree-dwelling) monkey native to the forests of western and central Africa. It is known for its long, silky fur and its distinctive lack of, or greatly reduced, thumbs.

Usage and Examples

• The colobus is easily identified by its striking black-and-white coat.
• Researchers are studying the impact of deforestation on the black-and-white colobus population.
• Unlike many other primates, the colobus has a reduced thumb, which is an adaptation for its leaping locomotion.

Advanced Usage and Notes

• The name "colobus" is derived from a Greek word meaning "mutilated," referring to their absent or vestigial thumbs.
• Colobus monkeys are primarily leaf-eaters (folivores) and have complex, multi-chambered stomachs to digest their food, similar to cows.

Variants and Related Words

• Colobine (adj/noun): Pertaining to or a member of the subfamily Colobinae, which includes colobus monkeys and langurs. These monkeys are characterized by their sacculated stomachs for fermenting plant material.
  • The colobine monkeys have a specialized digestive system.

Synonyms and Related Terms

• Leaf-monkey: A general term for monkeys that primarily eat leaves, including colobus monkeys and langurs.
• Guereza: A common name for a specific type of black-and-white colobus ().

Different Meanings

• The word "colobus" refers specifically to monkeys of the genus (black-and-white colobus) and the related genera (red colobus) and (olive colobus). It does not have other common meanings outside of zoology.

Học thuật

Noun

1. arboreal monkey of western and central Africa with long silky fur and reduced thumbs

Từ đồng nghĩa

• colobus monkey