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Proboscis Monkey


Proboscis Monkey
Photo Information
Copyright: James Parker (Jamesp) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1252 W: 0 N: 4842] (14380)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2001-03
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Canon EOS 1vHS, Canon EF 300mm f2.8 USM IS, Fuji Provia 100
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-10-04 9:44
Viewed: 694
Points: 18
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
For today's posting I have chosen a scanned slide taken in Borneo. I have cropped it as I scanned it and prepared it for TN - I never quite know how they will look until I upload them - so here's hoping!

There were plenty of these monkeys - but photographing them on my back in a canoe as they jumped between light and shade proved quite a challenge.

The Proboscis Monkey (Nasalis larvatus), also known as the Long-nosed Monkey, is a reddish-brown arboreal Old World monkey. It is the only species in monotypic genus Nasalis and is distributed and endemic to the coastal mangrove, swamps and riverine forests of Borneo. It lives in small groups of 10 to 32 animals. Group membership is very flexible, and animals are known to move from group to group quite often.

The Proboscis Monkey lifestyle is both arboreal and amphibious, with its mangrove swamp and riverine environment containing forest, dry land, shallow water allowing wading, and deep water requiring swimming. Like other similar monkeys, the Proboscis Monkey climbs well. It is also a proficient swimmer, often swimming from island to island, and has been picked up by fishing boats in open ocean a mile from shore. While wading, the monkey uses an upright posture, with the females carrying infants on their hip. Troops have been filmed continuing to walk upright, in single file, along forest trails when they emerge on land, the only non-human mammal, with the exception of gibbons and giant pangolins, known to use this form of locomotion for any length of time.

The most distinctive trait of this monkey is the male's large protruding nose. The purpose of the large nose is unclear, but it has been suggested that it is a result of sexual selection. The female Proboscis Monkey prefers big-nosed male, thus propagating the trait.

Males are much larger than females, reaching 72 cm (28 inches) in length, with an up to 75 cm tail, and weighing up to 24 kg (53 pounds). Females are up to 60 cm long, weighing up to 12 kg (26 lb).

The Proboscis Monkey also has a large belly, as a result of its diet. Its digestive system is divided into several parts, with distinctive gut flora, which help in digesting leaves. This digestive process releases a lot of gas, resulting in the monkey's "bloated" bellies. A side-effect of this unique digestive system is that it is unable to digest ripe fruit, unlike most other simians. The diet consists mainly of fruits, seeds and leaves.
gracious, nglen, PaulH, Adanac, haraprasan, jcoowanitwong has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1697 W: 242 N: 5609] (19923)
  • [2007-10-04 9:58]

Hi James,
another great shot of an unusual creature.
+++ Excellent composition and POV showing the long nose well. Decent colours and lighting.
--- Slightly pixelated but the technical details are all perfect.
Well done,
Joe

Hello James,
good clarity in the shade of trees also captured from a canoe is difficult but you had done well on this one!
the colouration is just beautiful and sharp
well done, James
cheers
Tony

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1995 W: 5 N: 5588] (21102)
  • [2007-10-04 12:12]

Hi james. Looks fine to me. what a strange looking Monkey. large nose to go witth its tail. you have captured the colours and detai in the fur so well.with a nice POV. well done TFS.
Nick.. good notes too

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1033 W: 26 N: 3000] (10824)
  • [2007-10-04 12:15]

Hi James,
reminds me of my dad a bit ;o) Great quality from a slide, with good colour and of course, nicely composed. That's one hell of a tail too..
cheers,
Paul

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1051 W: 1 N: 4170] (14008)
  • [2007-10-04 14:52]

Hello Mr. Parker,
Once again you educate me on a species from part of the world I will probably never get a chance to go to, your great note and fantastic capture transports me there and for that I thank you.
Rick

Hi James,
Nice shot of this Proboscis Monkey. Interesting pose and that tail is long. Good work from a rolling canoe and shading environment. Very well done and tfs.
JC

Hi James,
:D a funny looking monkey. While delivery I think the Gyn. surgeon accidentally pulled it out from the mother's womb by holding its nose with a twiser;>. A nice subject well presented with good informative notes. Thanks a lot for sharing.

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 929 W: 4 N: 2322] (10812)
  • [2007-10-05 2:49]

James, nice and super information pack from you. Interesting specie and great details. Ganesh

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2470 W: 168 N: 7478] (23630)
  • [2007-10-05 9:36]

Hello James,
We were lucky to see these fascinating monkeys in the Baku National Park on Borneo but they seemed very shy. You've done very well capturing this one high up in the tree.
They're not exactly beautiful but very interesting and now a seriously threatened species.
TFS and regards, Ulla

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