A comment on the status of "colobus polykomos dollmani" in Côte d'Ivoire

Abstract

The report by Sery et al. (Primate Conservation 21: 55-61, 2006) that Colobus polykomos dollmani had been observed in southern Côte d'Ivoire during surveys in 20032004 is questioned. Not only is this taxon of the black-and-white colobus monkeys of uncertain validity (being regarded by some authors as a set of hybrids between Colobus polykomos and C. vellerosus), but Sery et al. also do not provide sufficient evidence on the features of the monkeys they observed for these to be reliably assigned to a taxonomic entity. Whether or not C. p. dollmani is a valid taxon, future research in the region between the Sassandra and Bandama rivers should be encouraged so as to clarify the affinities of any remaining black-and-white colobus populations and to formulate concrete plans for the conservation of any evolutionarily distinctive populations located.