Proboscis Monkey

The proboscis monkey is a large, arboreal Old World monkey found only on the island of Borneo, primarily in mangrove forests, swamps and riverine woodland close to water. It is instantly recognizable by the male's enormous, pendulous nose, which can grow larger than the female's more modest, upturned nose and is thought to amplify its calls and signal dominance to rivals. Its reddish-brown fur, pale limbs and pronounced pot belly, which houses a specialized multi-chambered stomach for digesting the leaves that make up much of its diet, complete its unusual appearance. Proboscis monkeys are strong swimmers, unusual among primates, with partially webbed hind feet that aid in crossing rivers, and they will readily leap from trees into the water to escape predators such as crocodiles. Extensive loss of its mangrove and riverine forest habitat to logging and agriculture, particularly palm oil plantations, has driven a sharp population decline, and the species is classified as endangered.