The Ursine colobus is a medium-sized monkey that exudes quiet majesty. Their fur is velvety black, contrasted by snow-white thighs and bushy tail tips, giving them their “white-thighed” name. The mantle of long, silky hair around their shoulders and back glows faintly silver in sunlight, earning them the Latin name vellerosus, meaning “woolly.” Their faces are framed by short fur, with deep-set eyes that convey both alertness and gentleness—an expression that seems almost human.

The behavior and lifestyle of the Ursine colobus are defined by life among the trees. They are arboreal specialists, spending nearly all their time in the upper canopy, where they move with astonishing grace. Leaping distances of up to 15 meters (50 feet) between trees, they travel effortlessly through the forest in search of leaves, fruits, flowers, and seeds—the core of their herbivorous diet. Like other colobus monkeys, they have complex multi-chambered stomachs filled with symbiotic bacteria that help digest tough, fibrous leaves. This allows them to thrive in habitats where food is abundant but low in nutritional quality, making them one of nature’s most efficient leaf-eaters. They often feed in the cool mornings and late afternoons, spending the hottest parts of the day resting or grooming—an activity that reinforces social bonds within the troop.

One of the most fascinating aspects of the Ursine colobus is its role as a forest acrobat and seed disperser. By feeding on fruits and leaves across wide areas, they help maintain the health of their ecosystems, spreading seeds through their droppings and promoting forest regeneration. They also serve as important indicators of forest health; where Ursine colobus troops thrive, biodiversity tends to flourish as well.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Benin

2020

Burkina Faso

2020

Possibly Extinct

Côte D’ivoire

2020

Ghana

2020

Nigeria

2020

Presence Uncertain

Togo

2020