Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Primates
- Family
- Cercopithecidae
- Genus
- Piliocolobus
Habitat
This species inhabits lowland and montane rainforests in western Cameroon and southeastern Nigeria. They prefer dense forest canopies with abundant trees for foraging and shelter, typically at elevations up to 1,500 meters.
Diet
Preuss' red colobus primarily eats leaves, fruits, and seeds from various trees such as figs and other rainforest species. They are folivorous, spending much of their day feeding in the canopy, and typically forage during daylight hours in small groups.
Behavior
Preuss' red colobus lives in multi-male, multi-female troops of 10-80 individuals, exhibiting strong social bonds and cooperative behaviors like grooming. They are diurnal and arboreal, spending most of their time in trees, and defend territories through vocalizations and displays. Males may engage in aggressive interactions to maintain group hierarchy.
Conservation Status
Preuss' red colobus is classified as Endangered by the IUCN, with populations declining due to habitat loss from deforestation and hunting for bushmeat. Major threats include fragmentation of rainforest habitats and human encroachment.