The Proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus) is a reddish-brown animal which spends most of its time in trees or bushes and feeds on leafs. It can only be found in the costal areas of East-Borneo and the Mentawai Islands west of Sumatra. The most distinctive trait of this monkey is of course its large protruding nose. The reason behind having a large nose is still unclear and it has been suggested that it is simply a result of sexual selection: female Proboscis monkeys prefer big-nosed mates, thus propagating the trait.
This is a highly endangered species, and only 1,000 are known to still exist in the wild.
In this photograph,
Victo, a male Proboscis monkey, pauses during an afternoon feeding session at Singapore Zoo.
Link & Image: Stuff
Tags: Proboscis Monkey | Nasalis Larvatus | Monkey | Borneo | Mentawai | Sumatra | Nature
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