Colobus guereza : Territoriality and Group Composition

Abstract

Troops of the black and white colobus Colobus guereza in the Bueclongio Forest, Uganda, average eight animals with a typical composition of one adult male, four adult females, two subadults, one juvenile, and one infant. Solitary males and small all-male groups also occur. Troops of mixed sexes have well-defined territories which coincide roughly with the home range. Territories of five groups averaged 0.062 square mile (0.137 kmn²) in area agreeing closely with territory-sizes of Asian Colobine monkeys. Adult males have a roar that is concerned with maintaining territorial spacing, but not with actual territorial defense. The territories of these arboreal, forest animals are much smaller than the home ranges of more terrestrial and nonterritorial open-country primaes.