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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Feeding behaviour of red colobus and black and white colobus in East Africa.

The feeding behaviour of one troop of red colobus (Colobus badius tephrosceles) was observed between August 1969 and June 1970 in the Gombe National Park. Similar observations were made on two troops of red colobus and two of black and white colobus (C. guereza uellensis) in Kibale Forest Reserve, Uganda, between August and October 1970. The red colobus at Gombe were highly selective in their choice of food, feeding on the leaves, shoots, flowers and fruit of a wide variety of tree species. The animals appeared to choose a varied diet, eating different foods in different feeding bouts on the same day. The amount of time which they spent feeding on different foods varied seasonally, usually in association with changes in food availability. Different parts of the animals' range provided them with different kinds of food. The feeding behaviour of the red colobus troops at Kibale was similar to that of the Bombe troop. In contrast, black and white colobus at Kibale fed almost exclusively on mature leaves during at least one period of the year and fed largely on two tree species only. These differences in feeding behaviour may explain why red colobus live in large troops in large ranges whiel black and white colobus live in small troops in small ranges.

Animals↗

Characterization of a novel simian immunodeficiency virus from guereza colobus monkeys (Colobus guereza) in Cameroon: a new lineage in the nonhuman primate lentivirus family.

Exploration of the diversity among primate lentiviruses is necessary to elucidate the origins and evolution of immunodeficiency viruses. During a serological survey in Cameroon, we screened 25 wild-born guereza colobus monkeys (Colobus guereza) and identified 7 with HIV/SIV cross-reactive antibodies. In this study, we describe a novel lentivirus, named SIVcol, prevalent in guereza colobus monkeys. Genetic analysis revealed that SIVcol was very distinct from all other known SIV/HIV isolates, with average amino acid identities of 40% for Gag, 50% for Pol, 28% for Env, and around 25% for proteins encoded by five other genes. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed that SIVcol is genetically distinct from other previously characterized primate lentiviruses and clusters independently, forming a novel lineage, the sixth in the current classification. Cercopithecidae monkeys (Old World monkeys) are subdivided into two subfamilies, the Colobinae and the Cercopithecinae, and, so far, all Cercopithecidae monkeys from which lentiviruses have been isolated belong to the Cercopithecinae subfamily. Therefore, SIVcol from guereza colobus monkeys (C. guereza) is the first primate lentivirus identified in the Colobinae subfamily and the divergence of SIVcol may reflect divergence of the host lineage.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Partial molecular characterization of two simian immunodeficiency viruses (SIV) from African colobids: SIVwrc from Western red colobus (Piliocolobus badius) and SIVolc from olive colobus (Procolobus verus).

In order to study primate lentivirus evolution in the Colobinae subfamily, in which only one simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) has been described to date, we screened additional species from the three different genera of African colobus monkeys for SIV infection. Blood was obtained from 13 West African colobids, and HIV cross-reactive antibodies were observed in 5 of 10 Piliocolobus badius, 1 of 2 Procolobus verus, and 0 of 1 Colobus polykomos specimens. Phylogenetic analyses of partial pol sequences revealed that the new SIVs were more closely related to each other than to the other SIVs and especially did not cluster with the previously described SIVcol from Colobus guereza. This study presents evidence that the three genera of African colobus monkeys are naturally infected with an SIV and indicates also that there was no coevolution between virus and hosts at the level of the Colobinae subfamily.

Animals↗

Colobus type C virus: molecular cloning of unintegrated viral DNA and characterization of the endogenous viral genomes of Colobus.

The unintegrated viral DNA intermediates of colobus type C virus (CPC-1) were isolated from infected human cells that were permissive for viral growth. There were two major species of DNA, linear molecules with two copies of the long terminal repeat and relaxed circles containing only a single long terminal repeat. In addition, there was a minor species (approximately 10%) composed of relaxed circles with two copies of the long terminal repeat. A restriction endonuclease map of the unintegrated DNA was constructed. The three EcoRI fragments of circular CPC-1 DNA were cloned in the EcoRI site of lambda gtWES . lambda B and then subcloned in the EcoRI site of pBR322. Using these subgenomic fragments as probes, we have characterized the endogenous viral sequences found in colobus cellular DNA. They are not organized in tandem arrays, as is the case in some other gene families. The majority of sequences detected in cellular DNA have the same map as the CPC-1 unintegrated DNA at 17 of 18 restriction endonuclease sites. There are, however, other sequences that are present in multiple copies and do not correspond to the CPC-1 map. They do not contain CPC-1 sequences either in an altered form or fused to common nonviral sequences. Instead, they appear to be derived from a distinct family of sequences that is substantially diverged from the CPC-1 family. This second family of sequences, CPC-2, is also different from the sequences related to baboon endogenous type C virus that forms a third family of virus-related sequences in the colobus genome.

Animals↗

Use of sleeping trees by black and white colobus monkeys (Colobus guereza) in the Kakamega Forest, Kenya.

Groups of black and white colobus monkeys, or guerezas (Colobus guereza), observed in the Kakamega Forest, Kenya, had weak fidelity for sleeping sites. Groups often slept in trees near commonly used food sources, which might reduce the time and energetic costs of travel. Although the home range of each group overlapped with four to seven others, groups seemed to avoid sleeping near other groups, which would give them immediate and exclusive access to nearby food sources in the morning. The number of times a species of tree was slept in was positively correlated with its density. This may have occurred because so many suitable sites were available that proximity to feeding trees could be obtained whether or not groups slept in the feeding trees. Groups slept in tall trees, which provide stable sleeping sites and which may provide protection from both aerial and ground predators. Groups were more tightly clustered on nights with greater visibility, which might reduce the risk of predation.

Animals↗

Behavioral and endocrine dynamics associated with infanticide in a black and white colobus monkey (Colobus guereza).

Infanticide has been observed in several colobines, but only one infanticide has previously been documented for black and white colobus monkeys (Colobus guereza). This report describes an infanticide observed in Kibale National Park, Uganda, in the summer of 2001. An adult male from a neighboring group attacked and killed a young infant whose mother subsequently remained in her own group and was observed mating 10 days later. She engaged in two mating periods of several days each, separated by approximately 1 month, during which she copulated frequently with the dominant male within her group. Urinary estrogen (EC) and progesterone metabolite (PdG) excretion patterns demonstrated that the female resumed ovarian cycling soon after the infanticide. Because the infanticidal male did not attempt to mate with the victim's mother, his actions were not consistent with the predictions of the sexual-selection hypothesis. We speculate that infanticide associated with intergroup aggression may help secure access to high-quality resources for the infanticidal male's group.

Aggression↗

Individuals' behaviors following dye-marking in wild black-and-white colobus (Colobus vellerosus).

The ability to recognize individuals is a prerequisite for analyzing social relationships. We marked five adult and subadult Colobus vellerosus (three in 2002, and two in 2003) at the Boabeng Fiema Monkey Sanctuary, Ghana, to assess the feasibility of dye-marking black-and-white colobus, describe their reactions, and compare some of their behaviors with those of unmarked individuals. We used Nyanzol-D, a nontoxic black dye sprayed on the white tail (or white thigh) of the animal with a spray gun or a tree sprayer. Reactions to the marking procedure ranged from moving away and staring at the observer, without interruption in feeding (in one subject), to fleeing about 5 m away (in four subjects). In 234 hr of ad libitum observations (in 2002 and 2003), marks were scratched or otherwise were the object of attention from the bearer or other individuals on only one occasion. In 2002 we collected 22 hr of observations on the three marked monkeys and some unmarked monkeys in 10-min focal samples. Neither the marked nor the unmarked animals attended to the marks during focal samples. Marked and unmarked individuals displayed similar rates of displacement activities (autogrooming, scratching, and yawning). The proportion of scans with at least one near neighbor varied between marked and unmarked subjects, but the direction of the difference was not the same between males and females. The only aggression observed was displacements, and only in one comparison (out of four) did a difference emerge: the marked subadult male received more displacements than the unmarked males. Overall, marked and unmarked individuals did not differ consistently in our measures. Examination of the potential effects of marking should continue, since changes in pelage coloration may have longer-term social effects in species that rely largely on vision.

Animals↗

Mating behavior and endocrine profiles of wild black and white Colobus monkeys (Colobus guereza): toward an understanding of their life history and mating system.

Black and white colobus monkeys (Colobus guereza, "guerezas") show no external signs of estrus, and little is known about their mating behavior or reproductive endocrinology. To learn more about the life history characteristics and mating system of guerezas, we documented the mating behavior and ovarian hormone profiles of 10 cycling, lactating, and pregnant females in a wild population. We studied six groups of guerezas in Kibale National Park, Uganda, and collected ad libitum data on their mating behavior. We collected urine samples every 1.9+/-0.2 days from potentially fertile females and quantified conjugated urinary estrogen (E1S) and progesterone (PdG) metabolites using enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Females solicited 50.5% of copulations, and most copulations occurred during the interval starting 5 days before presumptive ovulation and ending 2-3 days later, with the highest copulatory levels occurring close to ovulation. We show that the median ovarian cycle length is 24 days, the median gestation length is approximately 158 days, the length of lactational amenorrhea is at least 7-8 months, and the median interbirth interval for females with surviving infants is approximately 22 months. We also document overlap between females' receptive periods in one-male, two- to three-female groups, which may mean that male transfer into such groups is potentially profitable.

Amenorrhea↗

The pathology of measles in Abyssinian Colobus monkeys (Colobus guereza): a description of an outbreak.

The pathological changes found in four Abyssinian Colobus monkeys (Colobus guereza) dying of measles are described. Warthin-Finkeldey giant cells were plentiful in the lymphoid tissue and spleen, in the mucosa of the alimentary tract and in the lungs, where they accompanied a non-suppurative pneumonia. In the alimentary tract they were most frequent in the colon when an associated colitis was present. Measles virus was recovered from the lung tissue of one animal, the virus being neutralised by both human and rhesus monkey anti-sera. This together with the close similarity between the pathological changes in human and monkey measles, supports the contention that the two diseases are one and due to the same virus.

Animals↗

An outbreak of poliomyelitis caused by poliovirus type I in captive black and white colobus monkeys (Colobus abyssinicus kikuyuensis) in Kenya.

In the latter part of 1982, three black and white colobus monkeys, Colobus abyssinicus kikuyuensis, from a small breeding group maintained at the Institute of Primate Research in Kenya, became paralysed within one month. Two of these cases were fatal and the third animal survived. The clinical and pathological findings suggested a poliomyelitis-like disease. This was confirmed by the isolation of wild strains of poliomyelitis virus type I from faeces, spleen, kidney, lung and central nervous system from affected animals.

Animals↗

Diet choice among red colobus (Colobus badius rufomitratus) on the Tana River, Kenya.

The feeding behaviour of a group of red colobus was observed in gallery forest beside the Tana River, Kenya, between October 1973 and December 1974. Food availability was quantified from tree enumeration data and a monthly sample of phenology, 22 species contributed to the annual diet but there was great variation in selection among them. Young leaves were not only the most important items in the diet, but also the most consistently selected in relation to their availability. Compared to red colobus studied at rain-forest sites in Uganda and Tanzania, those at the Tana have a much less diverse diet and eat more fruit but less mature leaf. The hypothesis is discussed that more use can be made of mature leaves in rain forest, because there are more species from which to choose.

Animals↗

Virus associated papillomas in colobus monkeys (Colobus guereza).

Numerous papillomas ranging in size from 1--10 mm were seen in four colobus monkeys (Colobus guereza). The lesions were confined to the fingers and toes and to the dorsal-lateral aspects of the hands and feet distal to the carpus and tarsus. Electron microscopy of two of the lesions revealed compactly arranged crystalline arrays of intranuclear virus particles in the epidermis. The particles were seen only in cells of the stratum granulosum and stratum corneum. By the negative stain technique, the non-enveloped spherical particles measured 52--58 mm in diameter. The arrangement of the capsomeres was consistent with an icosahedral symmetry. The observations suggested a viral etiology for the cutaneous papillomas similar to that of other mammalian species.

Animals↗

Ranging behaviour of red colobus (Colobus badius tephrosceles) in the Gombe National Park.

The ranging behaviour of one troop of red colobus in the Gombe National Park is described. The troop moved about its range in a semi-regular fashion, spending much more time in some areas than in others. The distribution of its time was closely correlated with the joint distribution of the three tree species on which the animals fed most. At the time of year when they fed most on shoots and flowers (as opposed to mature leaves) the animals moved furthest each day, visited the greatest number of different areas, distributed their time most evenly across the range and moved around it in the shortest period.

Animals↗

The social life of a black-and-white Colobus monkey, Colobus guereza.

To investigate relationships between ecology and social organization, observations were made on several populations of Colobus guereza in East Africa in 1970-74. Study time was concentrated in the Kibale Forest and the Kabalega National Park, Uganda. Findings on social behaviour are reported in this paper. Assessments of group composition were made. The repertoire of communicatory acts was analysed. During five-day continuous observation periods at Kibale (12 consecutive months) and at Kabalega (two months) all social interactions between members of one habituated group, and between this group and others, were recorded. 6 Kibale groups were monitored over a four-year period to examine changes in group structure. The results are compared with those from other studies and the adaptive significance of guereza social behaviour is discussed, emphasizing differences in male and female strategies.

Animals↗

Venereal papilloma and papillomavirus in a colobus monkey (Colobus guereza).

A papilloma on the penis of a colobus monkey was found to contain papilloma-virus group specific antigens by immunohistochemical analysis and virus-like particles in the nuclei of epithelial cells by transmission electron microscopy. In low-stringency Southern blot hybridizations, DNA from the lesion annealed with human papillomavirus 11 DNA, but not with the DNAs of 13 other papillomaviruses. Using human papillomavirus 11 DNA as a probe in Southern blot hybridizations, DNA from the penile papilloma was shown to contain a supercoiled DNA approximately 8 kilobases in size. This represents the first demonstration of a papillomavirus-associated venereal lesion in a nonhuman primate.

Animals↗