Mark Hannaford
Borneo Charity Challenges www.acrossthedivide.com
A distinctive trait of this monkey is the male's large protruding nose. The purpose of the large nose is unclear, but it has been suggested that it is a result of sexual selection. Another explanation is an adaptation to the facial structure to diving, the same as bipedalism might be an adaptation to wading, as proposed in the aquatic ape hypothesis.
Males are much larger than females, reaching 72 cm (28 inches) in length, with an up to 75 cm tail, and weighing up to 24 kg (53 pounds). Females are up to 60 cm long, weighing up to 12 kg (26 lb).
The Proboscis Monkey also has a large belly, as a result of its diet. Its digestive system is divided into compartments, with bacteria that digest cellulose and neutralize toxins from certain leaves. This lets the monkey eat leaves and remain in the forest canopy.
The contents of their stomach weigh about a quarter of their whole body. A side-effect of this unique digestive system is that it is unable to digest ripe fruit, unlike most other simians.The diet consists mainly of fruits, seeds, leaves and mangrove shoots. Source:Wikipedia
Borneo Charity Challenges www.acrossthedivide.com
A distinctive trait of this monkey is the male's large protruding nose. The purpose of the large nose is unclear, but it has been suggested that it is a result of sexual selection. Another explanation is an adaptation to the facial structure to diving, the same as bipedalism might be an adaptation to wading, as proposed in the aquatic ape hypothesis.
Males are much larger than females, reaching 72 cm (28 inches) in length, with an up to 75 cm tail, and weighing up to 24 kg (53 pounds). Females are up to 60 cm long, weighing up to 12 kg (26 lb).
The Proboscis Monkey also has a large belly, as a result of its diet. Its digestive system is divided into compartments, with bacteria that digest cellulose and neutralize toxins from certain leaves. This lets the monkey eat leaves and remain in the forest canopy.
The contents of their stomach weigh about a quarter of their whole body. A side-effect of this unique digestive system is that it is unable to digest ripe fruit, unlike most other simians.The diet consists mainly of fruits, seeds, leaves and mangrove shoots. Source:Wikipedia