Alpine monkeys. Snub-nosed golden monkey. Where do golden snub-nosed monkeys live?

They are beautiful: big eyes, upturned snub nose, light color "hair". But we are not talking about beautiful girls, but about funny monkeys that live in China. Due to their very thick fur, they can tolerate fairly low temperatures, which is why they are also called "snow monkeys".

Until the 60s of the 19th century, the European scientific world did not even suspect the existence of these primates. Which is not surprising. The first scientific mention of them belongs to the priest Armand David, who discovered these monkeys in the dense mountain forests of Sichuan. The priest failed to take them with him to Europe, but he managed to compile a detailed description of them, which later served well for the famous zoologist Milne-Edwards. It was he who gave these monkeys their modern Latin name - Rhinopithecus roxellana.

The first part is translated as “nosed monkeys”, and the second came from the name of the legendary beauty Roksolana, the beloved wife of the Turkish Sultan Suleiman I the Magnificent, who was distinguished by a small upturned nose.

These monkeys were known to the Chinese long before this discovery. This is evidenced by drawings on ancient vases and fabrics, where these animals were depicted with a blue face and golden fur. But they do not have the entire muzzle blue, but only the areas around the eyes and mouth.

Chinese snub-nosed monkeys belong to the genus of thin-bodied monkeys, which are not large in size, but are famous for their long tails. This also applies to our gold monkeys. The length of their body reaches 60-75 centimeters, the length of the tail is almost equal to the length of the body. Females are much larger than males and almost 2 times heavier than them.

The practical complete absence of a nose in these monkeys is not a tribute to fashion, but a forced measure of necessity. If they had a more elongated nose structure, then in such a climate they would quickly freeze it. And so, no nose - no problem.

Their habitat is not extensive enough and includes the mountainous regions of Central and South China. They live at an altitude of 1500 to 3000 meters above sea level. There is no single population here. It is broken up into many small groups or families. The most numerous population lives on the territory of the Wolong National Reserve in Sichuan province.

The monkey family consists of a male, several females and their offspring. The total number of one such family can reach up to 40 individuals. "Polygamy" determines the social position of the male in the group. Therefore, the more "wives" he has, the higher his status. And he will not interfere with them at all, since fertile females are still respected more here.

Each family has its own plot, the area of ​​​​which can reach from 15 to 50 square meters. km.

They like to sort things out, but they do it in quite “peaceful” ways. It rarely comes to fights, and most often they are limited to intimidating poses. But in cases of need, large individuals are able to give a good rebuff to an uninvited guest or some kind of predator.

Like many monkeys, they love to eat nuts, fruits and seeds, but with the advent of the snowy period it becomes problematic to find them, so they switch to coarser food - lichens or tree bark.

In the warm season, they rise higher into the mountains, into the forests, and in winter they go down into the valleys and foothills. That is, despite the fact that they live in the tropics and subtropics, they do not like the heat.

Snub-nosed monkeys spend most of their lives in trees. They rarely descend to the ground and, at the slightest danger, headlong climb to the very top of the trees.

Sexual maturity in females occurs by 4-5 years, and in males only by 7. The duration of pregnancy is 7 months. The female gives birth to only 1 cub. The lactation period lasts a year, after which the calf switches to adult food.

The average life expectancy of thin-bodied monkeys is approximately 20 years, what this figure is for Chinese snub-nosed monkeys is not known.

Both parents take part in the upbringing of the cub.

Over the past few years, due to deforestation and hunting for their meat and precious thick fur, the number of snub-nosed monkeys has plummeted. But the Chinese government caught on in time and set about creating a large network of parks and reserves, as well as applying tough measures to combat poaching. As a result, the number of primates has slightly stabilized and even increased. Now in the Chinese forests there are about 5,000 monkeys.

The golden snub-nosed monkey (lat. Rhinopithecus roxellana) is one of the rarest and most unusual primates of the Martyshkov family (lat. Cercopithecidae). In China, it is also called the snow, gold, money and silk monkey.

It is widely believed that she is able to bring good luck and wealth. In order to improve financial well-being, the Chinese depicted her on household utensils as early as the 3rd century.

The first among Europeans to see a snub-nosed monkey in natural conditions was the French missionary Jean-Pierre Armand David during his mission to China in the 70s of the XIX century. The lively disposition, mind and cheerfulness of the monkey made an indelible impression on him. He was so fascinated by this creature that he came up with a Latin name for her in honor of Roksolana, the wife of the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.

Spreading

The golden snub-nosed monkey lives in the mountainous coniferous and mixed forests of Southeast China in the provinces of Sichuan, Gansu, Hubei and Shaanxi. The habitat is located at altitudes from 1200 to 3300 m above sea level.

The largest population has adapted to life in the Shennongjia forest region in western Hubei, where the long winter months are covered with snow and temperatures often drop below -20°C. In summer, the heat here rises to 38 ° C, and the humidity rises to 90 percent.

The special structure of the upper respiratory tract helps primates survive in such difficult climatic conditions. According to many zoologists, snub nose allows you to save energy when breathing and appeared in the course of evolutionary selection.

Behavior

Snub-nosed monkeys are active during daylight hours. Peak activity occurs in the early morning and afternoon. During this period, primates are busy inspecting their home range and looking for food.

They do just as well in trees as they do on the ground. On a hard surface they move on all fours, but easily take a vertical position. Monkeys briskly jump from branch to branch and are able to overcome up to 4 km on the tops of trees in a day. In winter, the mobility of animals is reduced.

This species of primate lives in small groups, which usually consist of a male, several females and their offspring.

The group can include from 9 to 18 individuals. It is led by a male. Conflicts often break out between females due to attempts to rise higher in the social hierarchy.

Many strangers seek to remove the leader and take his place. Clarification of relations among applicants for the position of head of the harem occurs through gestures, threats and fights. It is interesting that often the females take the side of their rightful master and, by joint efforts, drive away the guest performers that are unpleasant to them. When a stranger leads a harem, he usually kills the offspring of the previous leader.

In addition to family groups, there are youth groups, consisting of 4-7 young males. Sometimes one or more groups can unite into one for a certain period of time, and then break up. In general, the social hierarchy is very mobile. The group's home plot covers up to 40 sq. km and often intersects with other areas.

In summer, monkeys eat fruits, berries, nuts and young shoots of plants. In winter, they mainly switch to lichens and tree bark. In summer, they climb mountains in coniferous forests, and with the onset of cold weather they descend into valleys.

reproduction

The mating season runs from September to November. Females ready for breeding begin to literally make eyes at the male. Drawing attention to themselves, they start short runs near him, trying to most effectively demonstrate their charming charms.

Sometimes the fashion show of beauties stretches for several hours. The leader with a sense of undisguised pride demonstrates the firmness of his character and the ability to control himself.

Pregnancy lasts about 6 months. Babies are born from March to April. Each mother usually has only one baby. The coat of the baby is black, with the exception of a light gray abdomen. In addition to the mother, other females can take part in his upbringing.

Dairy feeding continues up to 1.5 years. Gradual transition to solid food begins at six months of age. Three-year-old males leave the parental group, while females usually remain in it for life. They become sexually mature at the age of 5-7 years.

Description

The body length is 48-68 cm. The tail is slightly longer than the body. Females weigh an average of 11-12 kg, while males can reach a weight of 18-20 kg. Weight can vary greatly depending on environmental conditions and seasons.

The trunk and limbs are painted in various shades of reddish-yellow. The back and tail are dark brown. The fur is relatively long.

The face is white and naked. Around the eyes, the skin is painted sky blue. The nose is snub and short. Nostrils directed forward. In older individuals, they almost reach the forehead.

The life expectancy of golden snub-nosed monkeys is about 20 years. According to various estimates, the population size is estimated at 10 to 20 thousand animals.

The first European who got acquainted with these amazing representatives of the animal world was a priest from France, Armand David, who arrived in China as a missionary, but succeeded much more in zoology than in popularizing Catholicism among the inhabitants of the Celestial Empire. The materials brought to Europe about a new species of Chinese monkeys were very interested in the famous zoologist Milne-Edwards. He was most impressed by the noses of the animals - they bent up so much that in some older individuals they reached the forehead. This feature inspired the scientist to give the animals the Latin name Rhinopithecus roxellanae, where Rhinopithecus is a generic name meaning "nosed monkey", and the species name - roxellanae - comes from the name of the beloved wife of the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, the legendary beauty Roksolana. As you know, she was remembered by the inhabitants of Istanbul with her upturned nose.

The habitat of golden rhinopithecines covers Central and Southern China (Gansu, Hubei, Sichuan, Shaanxi). Of the three species of Chinese snub-nosed monkeys, this species is the most widely distributed throughout the state. They inhabit exclusively mountain forests at an altitude of 1,500-3,400 meters above sea level, where snow cover can lie up to six months a year. In these regions, the vegetation varies with altitude, from deciduous and broad-leaved forests at low altitudes to coniferous-broad-leaved forests above 2200 meters and coniferous forests above 2600 meters. In summer, golden monkeys climb mountains where the temperature is lower, and in winter they can descend below 1500 meters. The average annual temperature in their habitat is 6.4°C, with a minimum of -8.3°C in January and a maximum of 21.7°C in July. Roxellanic rhinopithecines are among the most cold-resistant primates, for such resistance to low temperatures in China they are sometimes called "snow monkeys".

Golden snub-nosed monkeys are small animals, whose body size is up to 66-76 cm, the tail length is 56-72 cm. The weight of adult males is 16 kg, females are smaller - 9-10 kg. The color of the coat in representatives of the species, depending on age, can be light or dark brown with golden guard hairs around the head, chest and on the limbs, which in older individuals acquire a rich orange tint.

Roxellanic rhinopithecines spend most of their time in trees looking for food and protection. They don’t like to descend to the ground, usually they do it only in order to find out the relationship between groups or within it, however, if necessary, they deftly move on a solid surface and even cross mountain rivers. Vigilant animals at the slightest danger immediately climb to the very top of the tree.

The diet of blue-faced monkeys changes markedly with the seasons, but they are primarily herbivores. They mainly feed on lichens, tree bark and pine needles, but in summer they also do not disdain seeds, fruits, insects and small vertebrates.

As usual with primates, Chinese monkeys devote a huge amount of time to grooming. Grooming is a way of maintaining the social structure through which young animals can learn sexual behavior.

Golden-haired monkeys live in groups of 5-10 to 600 individuals. If the number of animals is too large, several small groups are distinguished, always led by an adult male. Outside groups, Roxellanic rhinopithecines live in families consisting of a male, 4-5 females and their offspring, which occupy an area of ​​15 to 50 sq. km. To establish the location of the members of the group, the animals call to each other with loud exclamations. Leading males often keep somewhat apart from their counterparts, preferring to spend time alone, especially during rest. Adult females are generally more willing to communicate with each other than with members of the opposite sex or juveniles.

The status of the male in the group depends on his courage, perseverance and the number of wives, while the female is more respected in the presence of offspring. When conflicts arise, males do not always use brute force, because they take care of themselves and, instead of physical violence, are content with spectacular intimidating postures, roars and barks. Things often do not come to a fight - the winner is the one whose appearance seems the most convincing. Nevertheless, golden snub-nosed monkeys cannot be called cowardly - the largest individuals quite successfully defend themselves against such predators as a leopard, a hawk, etc.

Male monkeys reach puberty at the age of 7 years, female - 4-5. Mating can take place at any time of the year, but the most active period is in August-November. The female demonstrates readiness for procreation in a specific way - she stares at the male, and then abruptly runs away for a short distance. This is also indicated by a number of characteristic postures. However, only in half of the cases does the male respond to the calls of the female, a wide-open mouth serves as a positive response. Bearing offspring in golden rhinopithecines lasts seven months, in April-August 1-2 babies are born. Both parents are involved in the upbringing process, and the male is responsible for caring for the coat of the cub. The climate in these parts is quite harsh and in especially cold periods, members of the monkey family huddle together, warming the baby with the warmth of their bodies.

Resistant to low temperatures and snow, golden-haired monkeys, able to feed themselves in almost any conditions, flourished in those days when the mountains of Central and South China covered endless forests. But the hardworking Chinese peasants, century after century, actively conquered more and more new lands from the wild and, moreover, hunted these primates. The changes that have taken place over the past decades have become saving for the Roxellanic rhinopithecines - local authorities took the endangered species under protection, their habitats turned into reserves and parks, and tough measures were taken against poachers. A number of innovations made it possible not only to prevent the extinction of unique animals, but also to stabilize their numbers, and in recent years even increase it. Today, about 5,000 golden snub-nosed monkeys live in the forests of China.

Roxellanus rhinopithecus or golden snub-nosed monkey belongs to the marmoset family.

The monkey was originally named Rhinopithecus roxellanae, then the name was changed to Pygathrix roxellana. The first part is translated as “nosed monkeys”, and the second came from the name of the legendary beauty Roksolana, the beloved wife of the Turkish Sultan Suleiman I the Magnificent, who was distinguished by a small upturned nose.

Because of their very thick fur, golden snub-nosed monkeys can tolerate quite low temperatures, which is why they are also called "snow monkeys".

The right of the discoverer of this species of primates belongs to the French priest Armand David. He came to China in 1860 as a preacher, but achieved much more success in zoology. It was David who discovered golden blue-faced monkeys in the untouched mountain forests in Sichuan province.

These monkeys were known to the Chinese long before this discovery. This is evidenced by drawings on ancient vases and fabrics, where these animals were depicted with a blue face and golden fur. But they do not have the entire muzzle blue, but only the areas around the eyes and mouth.

Roxellanus rhinopithecine is a large monkey, body length reaches from 57 cm. up to 75 cm, tail 50-70 cm. Males weigh up to 16 kg, females - up to 35 kg. The coat is orange-gold. Females and males have signs of differences in coat color: in males, the belly, forehead and neck are golden in color.

Sexual maturity occurs in males at 7 years, in females at 4-5 years. Pregnancy is seven months long. The female gives birth to one cub. The lactation period lasts a year, after which it switches to adult food. The cubs are raised by both parents.

The back of the head, shoulders, arms on the back, head and tail are gray-black in tone. In females, these same parts of the body are colored brown - black. The nose is flattened, with prominent nostril openings on the face. The two flaps of skin on the wide open nostrils form peaks that almost touch the forehead.

The practical complete absence of a nose, a forced measure of necessity. If they had a more elongated nose structure, then in such a climate they would quickly freeze it.

The monkey family consists of a male, several females and their offspring. The total number of one such family can reach up to 40 individuals. "Polygamy" determines the social position of the male in the group. Therefore, the more "wives" he has, the higher his status. Each family has its own plot, the area of ​​​​which can reach from 15 to 50 square meters. km.

Like many monkeys, golden snub-nosed monkeys like to eat nuts, fruits and seeds, but with the advent of the snowy period it becomes problematic to find them, so they switch to coarser food - lichens or tree bark.

In the warm season, they rise higher into the mountains, into the forests, and in winter they go down into the valleys and foothills. That is, despite the fact that they live in the tropics and subtropics, they do not like the heat.

Roxellanic rhinopithecines have adapted to living in harsh conditions. Warm wool with a thick undercoat and behavioral features help them not to freeze in winter.

Snub-nosed monkeys spend most of their lives in trees. They rarely descend to the ground and, at the slightest danger, headlong climb to the very top of the trees.

Usually all members of the monkey family sleep, snuggling up to each other and saving heat. Males spend the night separately and are constantly on their guard, protecting the family from danger.

Roxellanus rhinopithecine is listed in the IUCN Red List as Vulnerable, listed in CITES (Appendix I). The golden monkey is an extremely rare primate that has escaped in-depth study by specialists. Most of the data is obtained from observation of monkeys in captivity or from limited information from the life of wild populations.

Over the past few years, due to deforestation and the hunting of golden snub-nosed monkeys for meat and precious thick fur, their numbers have plummeted. But the Chinese government caught on in time and set about creating a large network of parks and reserves, as well as applying tough measures to combat poaching. As a result, the number of primates has slightly stabilized and even increased. Now in the Chinese forests there are about 5,000 monkeys.

The Burmese snub-nosed monkey, or Stryker's Rhinopithecus (Rhinopithecus strykeri), is a species of thin-bodied monkey that scientists discovered in Burma in 2010. They are often confused with the bright orange Rhinopithecus roxellana, which is native to central and southern China.

The snub-nosed monkey was discovered in 2010 by a group from Myanmar Primate Conservation sponsored by John Stryker. In honor of him, this new monkey was named. Scientists conducting an expedition in northern Burma received skulls and bones of the future Rhinopithecus strykeri from local hunters. Scientists examined the remains and decided that they may belong to an as yet undescribed species. Further, scientists still managed to detect primates in the valleys of the Mekong and Salween rivers. According to scientists, only one population of Burmese snub-nosed monkeys was discovered - about 300 individuals.

Photo 2.

In addition to the distinctive black color with a white muzzle, the main feature of this monkey is a deformed raised nose (see photo). According to local hunters, when it rains, the monkey sneezes loudly, as water gets into their nose. Therefore, often during the rain, she can be seen sitting and lowering her head between her knees, thereby protecting herself from the rain. The locals call this monkey - "mey nwoah", which in Burmese means "monkey with his head up". The Burmese monkey is on the verge of extinction, due to the fact that the locals eat it, and it does not have any cultural value for them. The Burmese snub-nosed monkey is the rarest primate species.

Photo 3.

Science learned about the existence of the Burmese snub-nosed monkey only in 2010. These monkeys are extremely few and they got lost in a small area of ​​dense jungle. However, local tribes have long been familiar with these animals and call them - a monkey with an inverted face. And all because she sneezes when it rains.

The nostrils of the Burmese snub-nosed monkey are very short. This results in her sneezing from the raindrops. Wanting to protect himself from this, the monkey sits during the rain, lowering his head and hiding it between his knees. Locals often saw her with her head down.

Photo 4.

Rhinopithecus strykeri is still poorly understood, but for now we will report what is known. The coat of the monkey is mostly black. She has a mane of long black hair on her head. Their face is pink, without any hair. However, the monkey wears a mustache and a whitish beard.

The growth of the Burmese snub-nosed monkey is about half a meter. But on the other hand, the tail is one and a half times longer than the rest of the body.

Presumably, three or four packs live in an area of ​​270 square kilometers. They live only in the northeast of Burma, that is, in the Eastern Himalayas at an altitude of 1700 (in winter) to 3200 meters (in summer, when there is no snow), in isolation from other primates. Their total number is estimated at 260-330 monkeys.

Photo 5.

“It’s incredible to discover a new species of primate, especially a new species of snub-nosed monkeys, because this is extremely, extremely rare,” Frank Momberg, director of Asia-Pacific development for international charity Fauna & Flora, told the BBC. International (FFI). With these snub-nosed monkeys, Burma now has 15 primate species, highlighting the country's importance to the conservation of biodiversity on earth."

Photo 6.

Fauna & Flora International is calling for urgent action to protect the newly discovered primate species. First of all, they turn their appeals to the timber merchants. “If we can convince local people to stop hunting snub-nosed monkeys and create a patrol group, and provide alternative livelihoods for those who are completely dependent on the income that logging brings, we can save [the species] from extinction,” Frank Momberg said.

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