A rare and exquisitely adapted primate, known only from the swamp forests and marshy woodlands of southwestern Nigeria. Thought to have been discovered by science in the early 1990s, this monkey quickly caught the attention of conservationists because of its restricted range, striking appearance, and extremely high risk of extinction. It is now classified as Critically Endangered, meaning it faces an extremely high probability of disappearing entirely from the wild.

In appearance, the Niger Delta red colobus is unmistakable. Its back and upper body are dark—blackish—from head to rump, which fades into rusty or orange-brown hues along the flanks and outer legs. The underparts, inner sides, and much of the arms are white, while hands, feet, and portions of the head are black. The tail has a red-brown upper surface and a deeper chestnut or maroon below, darkening toward the tip. It also sports white whiskers or facial tufts, which frame its face in a striking contrast. Because of its dense swamp-forest habitat, its coat’s colors and contrasts help it both stand out among its group and blend into the patchy dappled light of its forest home.

Ecologically, the Niger Delta red colobus is a tree-dweller—an arboreal primate that rarely ventures to the ground. It lives in marsh forest zones, where the water table is high year-round and the forest never floods deeply. These swampy woodlands are crisscrossed by creeks, canals, and wet patches, creating a complex, waterlogged three-dimensional habitat. In this environment, the colobus moves with agility among branches, leaping between trees and utilizing its long limbs to navigate the gaps in the canopy. It shares its habitat with a number of other primate species—mona monkeys, putty-nosed monkeys, red-capped mangabeys, and white-throated guenons—each with their own niche.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Nigeria

<500

Official estimate

CR

2018