Western Red Colobus (Piliocolobus badius) lives in tropical rainforest across West and Central Africa. It feeds on leaves and fruits. Its conservation status is Endangered.
Fascinating facts about the Western Red Colobus
- A western red colobus measuring 450-670 mm from head to body and sporting a tail that stretches another 520-800 mm, together they can span up to 1.5 m. Their weight ranges from 5 kg to 11 kg, with males tipping the scales at 9.1-12.2 kg and females at 6.8-9.1 kg.
- A single colony can hold anywhere from a dozen to eighty individuals, a size that rivals a small classroom. These groups usually contain several adult males and up to three times as many adult females, creating a hierarchy that determines who gets the best feeding spots, the safest perches, and the most grooming partners. in a forest where chimpanzees and leopards lurk.
- Unlike most primates, the western red colobus digests its leaf-heavy diet with a ruminant-like, multi-chambered stomach that breaks down cellulose efficiently. This specialized gut lets them thrive on young leaves, mature foliage, seeds, and occasional fruit, turning low-nutrient plant matter into energy.
- In 1994, western red colobus monkeys became the unexpected source of an Ebola outbreak among chimpanzees after the apes hunted and ate them. This spill-over event shows how tightly linked predator-prey dynamics can transmit deadly viruses across species.
- Endemic to tropical West Africa, the western red colobus occupies fragmentary populations in Sierra Leone and continuous stretches through Liberia, Guinea and western Ivory Coast. Both recognized subspecies are listed as endangered, reflecting rapid declines from habitat loss and hunting. Their restricted range means that deforestation in any of these countries directly shrinks the species' viable habitat.
Sources
Every fact above was checked against these pages, and kept only where one of them states it.
At a glance
RangeWest and Central Africa
HabitatTropical rainforest
DietLeaves and fruits
About the Western Red Colobus
In the lush, vibrant canopies of West Africa's tropical forests, the Western Red Colobus monkey weaves a mesmerizing dance, its agile form darting effortlessly from branch to branch with a fluidity that belies its sturdy build. With eyes bright as polished onyx, this charismatic primate navigates its arboreal realm with an air of quiet confidence, its rich, reddish-brown coat glistening in the dappled light that filters through the leafy canopy above. As it moves, the Western Red Colobus seems to embody the very essence of its forest home, a living, breathing manifestation of the wild beauty that surrounds it.
Hear the Western Red Colobus, and 4,400+ more
Real recorded sounds, 11 nature games and a free Daily 5, 1v1 quiz duels, conservation wins and a safe Kids mode. Free on Feravox.
