About Colobus angolensis Sclater, 1860
Fur & Facial Features
Physical characteristics: Like all black-and-white colobi, the Angola colobus (Colobus angolensis Sclater, 1860) has black fur and a black face, surrounded by long, white locks of hair. It also has a mantle of white hair covering the shoulders.
Tail Characteristics
Its long, thin tail may be either black or white, but the tail tip is always white.
Regional Fur Variation
There is noticeable regional variation in the total amount of white fur on the body and in the length of the fur. Individuals living in mountain regions have longer, thicker fur than lowland individuals, to protect against cold temperatures.
Body Length & Sexual Dimorphism
The Angola colobus has a head-body length of 50 to 70 cm (20 to 28 in), and males are usually larger than females.
Tail Length & Body Weight
The tail is approximately 75 cm (30 in) long, and adult body weight ranges between 9 and 20 kg (20 and 44 lb).
Habitat Type
Distribution and habitat: The Angola colobus inhabits dense rainforests, in both lowland and coastal mountain regions.
Congo Basin Range
It is found across most of the Congo Basin, to the south and northeast of the Congo River, reaching as far as Ruwenzori, Burundi, and southwestern Uganda.
East Africa Distribution
The species also occurs in East Africa, particularly in interior and coastal forests of Kenya and Tanzania, and in isolated mountain areas.
Angola Population Status
Despite being named after Angola, the species is quite rare within that country.
Range Relative to Other Colobus
Among all Colobus species, the Angola colobus occupies the southernmost latitudes, and its geographic range lies entirely south of the range of the mantled guereza.
Elevation Range
In Kenya, it can be found at elevations up to 2,415 m (7,923 ft) above sea level.
Social Structure
Ecology and behaviour: All Colobus species are highly social, and live in groups that can reach several hundred individuals, though most groups are much smaller.
Diet Composition
The diet of the Angola colobus consists mostly of leaves, with smaller amounts of fruit and seeds also consumed.
