Monkey nosach - description, habitat, lifestyle

The nosy monkey, or as this species of Kachau primates is often called, has the most unusual appearance among its relatives. The name kahau comes from the characteristic cry that the animal emits at the moment of danger. Nosach is one of the rarest species of primates currently living on earth.

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The nosed monkey belongs to the primates of medium size, depending on the sex, their weight does not exceed 20 kg and the body length is not more than 78 cm. So, the average weight of the females is 8-10 kg with a body length of 55-65 cm. In turn, the male weighs 15-20 kg, body length - 73-78 cm. As a rule, the tail, regardless of gender, is equal to the length of the body.

The main feature of the primates of the male is a large pear-shaped nose, lowered down, its size can reach 10 cm in length. Sometimes this organ causes a lot of inconvenience during eating, and the monkey is forced to support it. When studying the olfactory abilities of the nose and its purpose, the opinions of experts were divided.

Some argue that during quarrels with other primates, an enlarging reddening nose scares off the enemy.
According to others, thanks to the huge olfactory organ, monkeys are able to scream louder, it is with a scream that the animal announces its presence in any territory, thus marking it.

Still others say that it is precisely by the size of the nose that the female chooses the most sexually mature male for herself during the mating period.

A drooping nose is a characteristic feature of only males, in females and young primates, the sense of smell is smaller, upturned, triangular in shape. The skin on the face is smooth without a coat, with pale red pigmentation. The back of a mature primate is covered with short hair. Its color can be dark, in brown-red or saturated orange tones, or light, bright yellow or ocher. The coat on the belly is light beige or pale gray.

In addition to the nose, large abdomen and size, there are several more external differences between males. Around the male’s neck, the hair grows much denser, forming a kind of collar, and there is a thick, dark mane along the entire length of the spine. Regarding the body, the limbs seem lean and elongated, they are evenly covered with light gray wool. The primate tail is strong and tenacious, however, it is practically not used, unlike muscular paws.

Lifestyle

At first glance, the nose makes the impression of a clumsy bumpkin, but this is an erroneous opinion. Monkeys are very dexterous and easily move from tree to tree, they grab onto the branch with their front paws, swing and jump, pulling their hind limbs. They spend most of the day at the top of trees, sometimes going downstairs for water or a special treat. The highest activity of the animal is observed in the afternoon. Hiding in the crowns of trees at night.

It is noteworthy that only this species of monkeys can dive, moreover, swim under water up to 20 meters. On the hind limbs, they have membranes that help monkeys to swim on the surface of the water. From birth, the female accustoms the cub to water procedures.

In addition, only 2 species of primates, including the nose, can easily move on the hind limbs, as a rule, they do this in dense forests, where it is difficult to walk on four legs.

Primates live in small groups, numbering from 10 to 30 individuals. Sometimes it includes only males or vice versa - females led by a mature male, but most often these are mixed flocks.Nosachi are considered a good-natured species of monkeys, they can only be aggressive, protecting their territory, conflicts in a flock are extremely rare. Between themselves, communication between animals occurs with the help of unusual sounds or facial expressions.

Quarrels in mixed groups are almost excluded, in female packs happen, albeit rarely. As soon as a conflict is brewing between the females, the leader abruptly cuts him short, making a nasal sound. There are times when a younger and warlike male expels the leader of the pack and destroys his offspring in the struggle for power, in which case the mother of the killed cubs must also leave the group.

All attempts by zoologists to tame kahau failed, this is due to their poor adaptation and low ability to learn. Therefore, there is no information about the duration of their life in captivity. In the conditions of life in nature, the nose lives about 20 years, as a rule, it depends on food and habitat.

Habitat

The coastal areas and lowlands of the rivers of the island of Borneo are habitats for nosed monkeys. The preferred settlement areas for them are peat bogs, dipterocarp forests, wetlands with mangroves. In addition, monkeys do not rise to areas located above 250 m above sea level, an ideal place for them is the coastline along any freshwater reservoirs.

Nutrition

Most often, the diet of the nosack monkey is:

• only the blossoming leaves of trees;
• young shoots;
• flowers
• unripe fruits.

In total, about 47 plant names.

It is extremely rare that primates can eat larvae of wood insects, beetles and caterpillars. This squad of monkeys has a voluminous stomach to get enough, they sometimes have to walk several kilometers a day, returning to the place of settlement only in the late evening. They begin to seek food along the banks of the rivers and gradually move deep into the forest.

Nosach avoids plants that contain a natural antibiotic and vice versa - can eat those that are poisonous. This fact is explained by the fact that kachau contains bacteria in the stomach that can neutralize poisons, but they die under the influence of antibiotics.

Enemies of the Nosed Monkey

Less commonly, monkeys become the prey of large snakes, eagles or monitor lizards. Despite the protection of the Kahau population, they continue to be hunted by poachers because of valuable fur and meat. Smoky leopards living in Borneo prefer to hunt cattle, and almost never attack monkeys.

Reproduction of the species

Sexual maturity of male and female primates occurs at the age of 2-3 years. Despite the data of researchers that the erection of males is constant, the mating period takes place in the spring. The mating games are initiated by the female. She begins to flirt, shake her head, make grimaces, protrudes her lower lip or twists them with a tube, demonstrates her genitals.

200 days after mating, a cub is born with a gray-blue muzzle and the same upturned nose as that of a mother, from 3 months of age, the color begins to change and is more like an adult in color. The weight of the newborn is about 500 g. Nosochka females are very caring mothers, they feed the baby up to 7 months and even after the maturation they maintain a family relationship. When the male reaches the age of 1-2 years, he must leave the group. Return to him is allowed only when he can compete with mature individuals.The female remains in the pack, grows up, and after reaching puberty, continues to replenish the offspring, while she can move from one clan to another, live in it and mate.

Kahau population

Deforestation, drainage of swamps and the cultivation of areas that once served as the habitat of monkeys, lead to a sharp reduction in their numbers. The remaining territories possible for settlement are occupied by a more aggressive species of long-tailed macaques. Kahau flocks are attracted by the booming fishing of poachers. Over the past 50 years, the number of nosed monkeys has halved, today their population is about 3,000 individuals. The species is listed in the International Red Book as disappearing.

Video: nosalis monkey (Nasalis larvatus)