Kanagawapithecus (SciiFii)

The Japanese colobus (Kanagawapithecus nippon), also known as the Japanese langur, is a species of Colobinae monkey that originally lived in Japan during the Pliocene as an extinct species, Kanagawapithecus leptopostorbitalis, and the genus itself was once extinct, but has since been brought back from extinction by SciiFii and introduced throughout the modern wetlands, forests, open woodlands across Japan to help boost biodiversity. The Japanese colobus monkeys are largely light gray (some more blonde), with a black face, ears, tail, and limbs. The fur of the Japanese colobus monkeys are short during the summer, however, they grow longer and thicker during the winter to keep them warm. Typically all north Japanese colobus monkeys have their tail tips looping towards their head during a casual walk whereas all south. There are also significant variations in the size depending on the sex, with the male always larger than the female. The head-and-body length is from 51 to 79 centimeters (20 to 31 inches). Their tails, at 69 to 102 cm (27 to 40 inches) are always longer than their bodies. Japanese colobus monkeys from the southern part of their range are smaller than those from the north. The average weight of Japanese colobus monkeys is 18 kilograms (40 lbs) in the males and 11 kilograms (24 lbs) in the females. Japanese colobus monkeys mostly walk quadrupedally and spend half their time on the ground and the other half in the trees. They will also make bipedal hops, climbing and descending supports with the body upright, and leaps. Japanese colobus monkeys can leap 3.6–4.7 meters (12–15 feet) horizontally and 10.7–12.2 meters (35–40 feet) in descending. Japanese colobus monkeys are primarily herbivores. However, unlike some other colobines, they do not depend on leaves and leaf buds of herbs, but will also eat coniferous needles and cones, fruits and fruit buds, evergreen petioles, shoots and roots, seeds, grass, bamboo, fern rhizomes, mosses, and lichens. Leaves of trees and shrubs rank at the top of preferred food, followed by herbs and grasses. Non-plant material consumed include spider webs, termite mounds and insect larvae. They forage on agricultural crops and other human foods, and even accept handouts. Although they can drink, Japanese colobus monkeys get many of their water from the moisture in their food. Japanese colobus monkeys are diurnal. They sleep during the night in trees but also on man-made structures like towers and electric poles when in human settlements. When resting in trees, they generally prefer the highest branches. Ungulates like bovine and deer will eat food dropped by foraging Japanese colobus monkeys. Japanese colobus monkeys are preyed upon by leopards, dholes and tigers. Wolves, jackals, and Asian black bears may also prey on Japanese colobus monkeys. Japanese colobus monkeys exist in three types of groups: one-male groups (comprising one adult male, several females and offspring), multiple-male groups (comprising males and females of all ages), and all-male groups. All-male groups tend to be the smallest of the groups and can consist of adults, subadults, and juveniles. Some populations have only multiple-male groups as mixed sex groups, while others have only one-male groups as mixed sexed groups. Some multiple-male groups are temporary and exist only after a takeover, and subsequently split into one-male and all-male groups. Social hierarchies exist for all group types. In all-male groups, dominance is attained through aggression and mating success. With sexually mature females, rank is based on physical condition and age. The younger the female, the higher the rank. Dominance rituals are most common among high-ranking Japanese colobus monkeys. Most changes in social rank in males take place during changes in group members. An adult male may remain in a one-male group for 45 months. The rate of male replacement can occur quickly or slowly depending on the group. Females within a group are matrilineally related. Female memberships are also stable, but less so in larger groups. Relationships between the females tend to be friendly. They will do various activities with each together, such as foraging, traveling and resting. They will also groom each other regardless of their rank. However, higher-ranking females give out and receive grooming the most. In addition, females groom males more often than the other way around. Male and female relationships are usually positive. Relationships between males can range from peaceful to violent. While females remain in their natal groups, males will leave when they reach adulthood. Relationships between groups tend to be hostile. High-ranking males from different groups will display, vocalize, and fight among themselves. In one-male groups, the resident male is usually the sole breeder of the females and sires all the young. In multiple-male groups, the highest-ranking male fathers most of the offspring, followed by the next-ranking males and even outside males will father young. Higher-ranking females are more reproductively successful than lower-ranking ones. Female Japanese colobus monkeys do not make it obvious that they are in estrous. However, males are still somehow able to deduce the reproduction state of females. Females signal that they are ready to mate by shuddering the head, lowering the tail, and presenting their anogenital regions. Such solicitations do not always lead to copulation. When Japanese colobus monkeys mate, they are sometimes disrupted by other group members. Females have even been recorded mounting other females. The gestation period of Japanese colobus monkeys lasts around 200 days. In some areas, reproduction is year-around. Year-round reproduction appears to occur in populations that capitalize on human-made foods. Other populations have seasonal reproduction.Infanticide is uncommon, but not rare, among Japanese colobus monkeys. Most infanticidal Japanese colobus monkeys are males that have recently immigrated to a group and driven out the prior male. These males only kill infants that are not their own. Infanticide is more commonly reported in one-male groups, perhaps because one male monopolizing matings drives the evolution of this trait. In multiple-male groups, the costs for infanticidal males are likely to be high as the other males may protect the infants and they can't ensure that they'll sire young with other males around. Nevertheless, infanticide does occur in these groups, and is suggested that such practices serve to return a female to estrous and gain the opportunity to mate. Females usually give birth to a single infant, although twins do occur. Most births occur during the night. Infants are born with thin, dark brown or black hair and pale skin. Infants spend their first week attached to their mothers' chests and mostly just suckle or sleep. They do not move much in terms of locomotion for the first two weeks of their life. As they approach their sixth week of life, infants vocalize more. They use squeaks and shrieks to communicate stress. In the following months, the infants are capable of quadrupedal locomotion and can walk, run and jump by the second and third months. Alloparenting occurs among Japanese colobus monkeys, starting when the infants reach two years of age. The infant will be given to the other females of the group. However, if the mother dies, the infant usually follows. Japanese colobus monkeys are weaned by 13 months. The conservation status of the Japanese colobus monkey is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts, the Japanese colobus monkey's wide range and its tolerance to many of the human activities.
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii