-tree-dweller that favors dense, swampy forests
-spends its life among the trees of the dense mangrove forests and swampy river plains
-up to 60 group members, NOT highly structured
-loose organization might be because they spend most their time finding and eating food, which leaves little time for group activity
-home range 1 square mile -not aggressive, they share their ranges with other animals
-day spent on swinging from tree to tree foraging for
food high in the tree tops
Surrounded by leaves it eats, it rarely travels more than � mile per day.
-sleep together in 1 line on a strong branch that leans out over the water. This offers them the best protection from predators like leopards
Food and Feeding
-begins and ends each day by eating a big meal
-fav. Leaves and shoots, but will also eat fruit and flowers
-does not digest food efficiently so it must eat all day to obtain all the nutrients it needs
-eats by sitting in a fork in the tree and grabbing and stripping branches of their leaves
-has long thumbs for gripping branches, and sharp teeth excellent for shredding leaves
-after eating a big meal the monkey sits in the tree to digest its food. Soon after it forages for more food, alone or in a group.
-When foraging in a group, the head male sits at the top of a tree and acts as lookout
-rarely needs to drink, because it gets all its water from the leaves it eats.
Breeding
-breed throughout the year, but most of their young are born when a good food supply are available
-when female is ready to mate, she chooses a male and stares at him, pursing her lips. If he responds with a pouting expression, the pair will mate
-usually gives birth to single infant about 8 inches long, its eyes are shut and it can cling to its mother's fur.
-Infant is covered in short, downy hair and its face it blue.
-The face colour gradually changes, as well as the colour of its coat, to that of the adult monkey's.
-Females in the group frequently look after each other's young, carrying them around as well as feeding them. This enables the mothers to go off and feed without the extra burden of an infant.
Interesting facts
-It eats so much that the contents of its stomach can be over 1/4 of its body weight.
-Can jump into water from 50 feet and stay submerged for 30 seconds
-Hunted by clouded leopards in the trees and by crocodiles in the water.
-Males honk or snort loudly as a warning and the females sound like a goose.
-Their flesh is a delicacy to the people of Borneo.
