Colobine monkeys | |
---|---|
Javan lutung (Trachypithecus auratus) | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Primates |
Suborder: | Haplorhini |
Family: | Cercopithecidae |
Subfamily: |
Colobinae Jerdon, 1867 |
Genera | |
Colobus |
Colobus
Piliocolobus
Procolobus
Trachypithecus
Presbytis
Semnopithecus
Pygathrix
Rhinopithecus
Nasalis
Simias
The Colobinae are a subfamily of the Old World monkey family that includes 59 species in 10 genera, including the black-and-white colobus, the large-nosed proboscis monkey, and the gray langurs. Some classifications split the colobine monkeys into two tribes, while others split them into three groups. Both classifications put the three African genera Colobus, Piliocolobus, and Procolobus in one group; these genera are distinct in that they have stub thumbs (Greek κολοβός kolobós = "docked"). The various Asian genera are placed into another one or two groups. Analysis of confirms the Asian species form two distinct groups, one of langurs and the other of the "odd-nosed" species, but suggests the gray langurs are not closely related to either.
Colobines are medium-sized primates with long tails and diverse colorations. The coloring of nearly all the young animals differs remarkably from that of the adults.
Most species are arboreal, although some live a more terrestrial life. They are found in many different habitats of different climate zones (rain forests, mangroves, mountain forests, and savannah), but not in deserts and other dry areas. They live in groups, but in different group forms.