Yunnan snub-nosed monkey, Yunnan golden hair monkey (China), Black-and-white snub-nosed monkey (China), Black-and-white snub-nosed monkey
The black-and-white snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus bieti ), also known as the Yunnan snub-nosed monkey, is a large black and white primate that lives only in the southern Chinese province of Yunnan, where it is known to the locals as the Yunnan golden hair monkey (滇金丝猴) and the black-and-white snub-nosed monkey (黑白仰鼻猴). The common name, black snub-nosed monkey, is issued to Rhinopithecus strykeri, inhabiting the Northern Sino-Myanmar border. Coniferous and deciduous forests in the mountainous regions of Yunnan are the ideal terrain for these primates. It is threatened by habitat loss, and is considered an endangered species. With their unique adaptations to their environment, these monkeys thrive at extreme altitudes despite the below freezing temperatures and thin air. This primate's diet is mainly made up of the large amounts of lichens available in their region.
The Black snub-nosed monkey is a large black and white primate that lives only in the southern Chinese province of Yunnan; there it is known to the locals as the Yunnan golden hair monkey and the Black-and-white snub-nosed monkey. It is threatened by habitat loss and is considered an endangered species. With their unique adaptations to their environment, these monkeys thrive at extreme altitudes despite the below-freezing temperatures and thin air. Their fur is extremely thick to protect them against below-freezing temperatures. They are born with white fur that darkens with age. Another distinctive feature shared by both adults and babies is their hairless and vibrant pink lips. These primates get the "snub-nosed" part of their name from the absence of nasal bones. This is considered their most distinctive feature.
Black snub-nosed monkeys are found only in Nujiang Langcang Gorge alpine conifer and mixed forests of the Yun Range, which is part of the greater Hengduan Mountains. Only 17 groups survive in northwest Yunnan and neighboring regions in the Autonomous Prefecture of Tibet. The territory of each group varies from 20 to 135 square km.
Black snub-nosed monkeys are active during the day and spend the majority of their life in the trees. They live together in very large groups of up to 500 members, splitting up into smaller groups in times of food scarcity, such as in the winter. Groups consist of many more males than females. They have territorial instincts, defending their territory mostly with shouts. They have a large vocal repertoire, calling sometimes solo while at other times together in choir-like fashion.
Unlike many primates, the diet of Black-and-white snub-nosed monkeys consists mainly of lichen found on trees. They will also eat bamboo leaves, fruits, and other, more seasonal plants if the opportunity presents itself.
Black snub-nosed monkeys are polygynous, which means that one male gets an exclusive right to mating with multiple females. As a general rule, receptive females are the initiators of mating, announcing of their readiness through various signals and postures. These primates may breed year-round, however, the peak usually occurs between August and September. After the gestation period of 6 to 7 months, females give birth to a single infant. For the first few weeks after birth, the young are carried only by their mothers. At the age of 6 months, infants are able to obtain most of their food themselves, but mothers may still continue to nurse them for another 6 to 14 months. Males of this species are ready to mate at 7 years old, whereas females are mature by 4-5 years of age.
The main threats to Black snub-nosed monkeys include habitat loss caused mainly by logging and poaching. They are also often caught accidentally in snares that were set for hunting Musk deer.
According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of the Black snub-nosed monkey is less than 1,000 mature individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List but its numbers today are stable.