black snub-nosed monkey

The black snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus bieti) is one of four species of snub-nosed monkeys, which are large leaf monkeys found in the highland forests of China and northern Vietnam. These primates are characterized by their broad, short faces, wide-set eyes, and flat noses with forward-facing nostrils. The black snub-nosed monkey is black on its upper side and white underneath, with a greenish face and a tuft of hair on its crown. It inhabits high-altitude coniferous forests, often covered in snow, between the Yangtze and Mekong rivers in Yunnan, China.1

Snub-nosed monkeys primarily eat leaves, but their diet also includes flowers, fruits, and seeds. The larger species, like the golden and black snub-nosed monkeys, also consume lichens and forage on the ground. These monkeys typically live in troops, which may divide into smaller groups for foraging.1

Unfortunately, several snub-nosed monkey species are endangered due to habitat loss and hunting. The black snub-nosed monkey, with a population of fewer than 1,500 individuals, faces threats from hunting and deforestation.1