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Order : PRIMATES
Family : Cercopithecidae
Species : Presbytis thomasi
Weight : Up to approx. 6.7 kg
The strikingly patterned
Thomas's Leaf Monkey occurs in primary and secondary forests of Aceh
Province, on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Adventurous troupes, which
may number from 10 to 20 individuals, are known to venture close to human
habitation.
The normal diet of the
species comprises young leaves, though unripe,
non-fleshy fruits or insects are sometimes consumed. The hard seeds of the Rubber Tree Hevea
brasiliensis, grown in plantations adjacent to the forest, may also be
eaten. The large canines allow the tough husks of forest fruits to be easily torn
apart.
The fur is grey on the back and dorsal surface of the
limbs. The chest, belly and ventral surface of the limbs are pure white. The
elegant tail is long and pale in colour, and the feet and hands are black.
On the head the crestal fur is grey bordered with white. Juveniles are fully white.
Habitat loss is the main threat to the future of
Thomas's Leaf Monkey, however large areas of native forest still survive in
northern parts of Sumatra where this species occurs.
Fig 1 : Adult with clinging juvenile
Fig 2 : These images were taken at
Bukit Lawang, Gunung Leuser National Park, Sumatra.
Photos thanks to Andrea Molyneaux
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