Preuss's red colobus (Piliocolobus preussi)
Preuss's red colobus (Piliocolobus preussi) is listed as "endangered" on the IUCN Red List"
Preuss's red colobus (Piliocolobus preussi) is a species of catarrhine primate in the family Cercopithecidae.
Piliocolobus preussi is a red colobus primate species endemic to the Cross-Sanaga Rivers ecoregion. An important population occurs in Korup National Park, Southwest Province, Cameroon, but the species' distribution is localized (groups are frequently encountered near the main tourist camps). The species is considered present in adjacent Cross River National Park - Oban Division in Nigeria and hunter reports suggest that few groups remain in Nkwende Hills and Nta Ali Forest Reserve in the broader Korup region. A population is also present in Ebo forest, Littoral Province of Cameroon.
Taxonomy
Preuss's red colobus has, in the past, been considered a subspecies of Piliocolobus pennantii and Piliocolobus badius.
Description
The head is black, the back is black with a reddish tinge, the limbs, cheeks and tail have a reddish tinge.
Lifestyle and nutrition
Piliocolobus preussi inhabits humid forests up to 1400 m altitude. It forms groups of 20 to 64 individuals. Its diet consists mainly of leaves.
Conservation status
The World Conservation Union (IUCN) has classified the species as critically endangered. The main threats to the species are hunting and habitat destruction. A large part of the population lives in protected areas in Cameroon and Nigeria.
Conservation status
The Preuss's red colobus is critically endangered according to the IUCN Red List due to hunting pressure and destruction of its habitat. Large portion of the remaining groups are included within protected areas (Korup National Park, Cross River National Park, and the proposed national park at Ebo).
