Behavioural ecology of two sympatric colobines on bioko island, Equatorial Guinea

Abstract

The black (Colobus satanas) and red colobus (Procolobus badius) are two of the most threatened primate species of Africa. Both species live on Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea, where their habitat preferences and niche separation were analyzed. The black colobus is found mainly in mountain and primary lowland forest, but can be observed also at secondary lowland forest, and even in the alpine grasslands at the top of Mount Basile. The red colobus shows a clear preference for the mountain forest. Black colobus were found feeding lower down in the forest canopy than red colobus. The activity of both species took place on the higher levels of the canopy. The red colobus uses preferently the middle and upper part of the forest, and the black colobus can be observed in a wider range of strata inside the canopy.