Cyber FlashCards

10 of the weirdest primate species

#2

what is thIS PRIMATE'S common name?
PROBOSCIS MONKEY
called bekantan in Indonesia,
​and sometimes otherwise referred to as long-nosed monkeys.
What is the scientific name?
Nasalis larvatus
​WHAT KIND OF PRIMATE IS THIS?
MONKEY
Where do they live?
Proboscis monkeys are endemic to the southeast Asian island of Borneo, including all three nations that divide the island: Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia. ​Proboscis monkeys inhabit mangrove forests along rivers and estuaries, swamp-land, and lowland rainforest and rarely range more than .6 mi (1 km) from water. They can also be found in wetlands that are not associated with the coast, such as swamp forests, limestone hill forests, rubber forests, and tropical heath forests. Populations that are found inland usually gather along rivers.
Picture
Asia
Picture
Where proboscis monkeys live. Map: U. Schröter/Creative Commons
New world or old world?
OLD WORLD
fascinating facts
  • Proboscis monkeys live along the waterways of the most threatened habitats of Borneo
  • Webbing between their 2nd and 3rd toes allows them to swim masterfully and walk nimbly on soft mangrove
  • Males' noses are larger than those of females; their bulbous noses produce honking sounds used in courtship
  • Their bloated bellies are a result of their speciealized digestive system
What threatens their future?
Although fires, hunting, and illegal wildlife trade all are threats to proboscis monkeys, the major threat is habitat destruction. Waterways, their preferred habitat, typically the first areas to be disturbed by people.

Rampant clearing of rainforests (especially riverine forests and mangroves) for timber, palm oil plantations, and settlements has depleted and fragmented huge regions of their habitat.

Hunting is also a problem. Since proboscis monkeys are relatively slow-moving, they are relatively easy to hunt.
​WHAT IS their CONSERVATION STATUS?
ENDANGERED
What Does this Conservation Status mean?
Endangered (EN) – High risk of extinction in the wild
Any species categorized as Critically Endangered, Endangered, or Vulnerable is considered by conservation scientists to be a threatened species
​HERE'S A SNAPSHOT AND THE SPECIES' PROFILE
Click or tap on the graphic to enlarge it
​LEARN MORE ABOUT Proboscis Monkeys
Go to the proboscis monkey Primate Species Profiles page
are proboscis monkeys good pets?
NO
  1. Proboscis monkeys are rarely seen in captivity due to their special dietary needs. They are do not thrive in captivity and die.
  2. Primates are never domesticated. They always remain wild. 
  3. Caged primates are very unhappy and frustrated. They are likely to resist confinement. They are quick and cause damaging bites and scratches. Some die as a result of their captivity.
  4. Many locations have strict regulations that prohibit trading in or keeping primates and endangered species are pets.
  5. Proboscis monkeys belong with other proboscis monkeys in Borneo. They and their habitats must be protected, not exploited.
#PrimatesAreNotPets
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​Common names are not officially defined. They are based on everyday conversational language and may differ by country, region, profession, community, or other factors. As a result, it is not unusual for a species to have multiple common names.

Scientific names, on the other hand, are standardized and constant. They are Latinized and rule-bound by a formal naming system called binominal nomenclature. Scientific names prevent misidentification. They typically only change if a species is officially redesignated.
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The biological order of Primates is divided into these classifications:​
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​​New World monkeys are native to Central and South America.

Old World monkeys are native to Africa and Asia.
Learn about the differences between New World monkeys and Old World monkeys
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  • ​Extinct (EX) – No known individuals remaining.
  • Extinct in the Wild (EW) – Known only to survive in captivity.
  • Critically Endangered (CR) – Extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
  • Endangered (EN) – High risk of extinction in the wild.
  • Vulnerable (VU) – High risk of endangerment in the wild.
  • Near Threatened (NT) – Likely to become endangered in the near future.
  • Least Concern (LC) – Widespread and abundant.
  • Data Deficient (DD) – Not enough data to assess the species' risk of extinction.
  • Not Evaluated (NE) – Has not yet been evaluated.
Learn more about ​Conservation Statuses
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