Proboscis Monkey, Long-Nosed Monkey

Proboscis monkey, also known Bekantan, or Indonesian nickname is monyet belanda meaning 'Dutch monkey' the Indonesian word for Dutchman, as Indonesian noticed the Dutch colonisers often also had a large belly and nose.

Proboscis Monkey is endemic Borneo's mangrove, lowland, riverine and swamp forest. Proboscis Monkey have the longest noses of all primates. In alderly animals, it can reach 17,5 cm, although its function is not known for sure. Both males and female have the large noses. The male is much larger and heavier than the female. A male is 2 to 2,5 feet (66-72 cm) long and weighs 35-51 lbs (16-23 kgs), while a female is 1,2-2 feet (53-61 cm) long and weighs only (15-24 lbs) 7-10 kgs. Their tails are as long as their body.

Like other similar monkeys, the Proboscis Monkey climbs well. It is also a expert swimmer, often swimming from island to island, and has been picked up by fishing boats in open ocean a mile from shore.

Proboscis Monkey lives in small groups of 10 to 32 animals. Group membership is very flexible, and animals are known to move from group to group quite often.

Status : Due to ongoing habitat loss and hunting in some areas. Only about 1000 are known to still exist in the wild. Proboscis Monkey is evaluated as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

See also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proboscis_Monkey