Arusha National Park

'M' is for monkey

Black-and-white Colobus monkey (Colobus guereza) in a tree, Arusha National Park, Tanzania. These old world monkeys are difficult to photograph in the wild as they live high in big trees in low light and are very active, hence the high ISO. They have wonderful long fluffy white tails that, in this image, can be seen between the leaves and branches in the lower left. Arusha National Park on the lower slopes of Mount Maru is a good place to try to see them in the wild.

The Colobus have only a stubby thumb on their forearms (you can see it in this image) though they retain an opposable big toe. The name "Colobus" comes from the Greek word "kolobos" meaning maimed or mutilated. "The reduction of the thumb is an adaptation to arboreal living as the fingers have become aligned into a single, narrow curved arc that allows the hand to act as a flexible hook".

monkeyold world monkeyBlackandwhite Colobus monkeyColobus guerezahigh in treeleaves and branchesArusha National ParkTanzania