Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Primates
- Family
- Cercopithecidae
- Genus
- Piliocolobus
Habitat
This species is found exclusively in the freshwater swamps and lowland rainforests of the Niger Delta in southern Nigeria. They prefer dense, riverine vegetation for foraging and shelter. Their habitat is characterized by high humidity and flooded areas.
Diet
The Niger delta red colobus primarily eats leaves, fruits, and seeds from trees like figs and mangroves. They are folivorous, spending much of the day foraging in the canopy, and feed mainly during daylight hours to avoid nocturnal predators.
Behavior
They live in troops of 20-30 individuals with a matriarchal social structure, often communicating through vocalizations. These monkeys are arboreal and diurnal, spending most of their time in trees foraging or resting, and they exhibit territorial behavior by defending their home ranges.
Conservation Status
The IUCN classifies the Niger delta red colobus as Critically Endangered, with a decreasing population trend due to habitat loss from deforestation and oil activities.