Colobus satanas

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Bibliography

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	PRIMATES	CERCOPITHECIDAE

Scientific Name:

Colobus satanas

Species Authority:

Waterhouse, 1838

Infra-specific Taxa Assessed:

See Colobus satanas ssp. anthracinus

See Colobus satanas ssp. satanas

Common Name/s:

English	–	Black Colobus
Spanish	–	Colobo Negro

Taxonomic Notes:

Grubb et al. (2003) list two subspecies: C. s. satanas from Bioko, and C. s. anthracinus from the mainland.

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Vulnerable A2cd ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2008

Assessor/s:

Oates, J.F., Kingdon, J., Groves, C.P. & Brugiere, D.

Reviewer/s:

Mittermeier, R.A. & Rylands, A.B. (Primate Red List Authority)

Justification:
Listed as Vulnerable as there is reason to believe this species has declined by well over 30% over the past 30 years (three generations) largely due to habitat loss and hunting pressures.

History:

2000	–	Vulnerable
1996	–	Vulnerable
1994	–	Vulnerable (Groombridge 1994)
1990	–	Endangered (IUCN 1990)
1988	–	Endangered (IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre 1988)
1988	–	Endangered
1986	–	Vulnerable (IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre 1986)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species is found from Cameroon (south of the Sanaga River), through Equatorial Guinea, western and central Gabon inland to Lope National Park (Brugiere 1998) (and with unconfirmed reports of sparse populations east of the Ogooue and Ivindo Rivers), parts of Congo, and on Bioko Island. This species is now rare or absent in those parts of its range where there has been extensive logging. In mainland Equatorial Guinea, for example, its range had been reduced to one-third of its former size by 1967. It is thought to occur from 500-2250 m asl. There are two subspecies: C. s. satanas is found only on Bioko Island (Equatorial Guinea), while C. s. anthracinus is found in Cameroon south of the Sanaga River, Equatorial Guinea, Congo and Gabon.
Countries:	Native: Cameroon; Congo; Equatorial Guinea (Bioko); Gabon
Range Map:	(click map to view full version)

Population [top]

Population:	There are no estimates of the total population of this species, but it is known to live at low densities. It is thought to have a patchy distribution in parts of its range. The highest density populations are thought to be in Lope Reserve, Gabon, where there is a population of approximately 50,000 - 55,900 individuals (Brugiere 1998), in the Foret des Abeilles (central Gabon) where the population density is 25-30 animals/km², and in the Douala-Edea Reserve (Cameroon), where the density was estimated to be 38 animals/km² in 1978. On Bioko, this species has undergone the biggest decline of all the primates -- more than 60% between the period 1986 and 2006 (Hearn et al. 2006). They were common species on Pico Basile in 1986, but have been heavily hunted in the Pico Basile National Park in the 2000s. They are now rare outside the Gran Caldera.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Population:

There are no estimates of the total population of this species, but it is known to live at low densities. It is thought to have a patchy distribution in parts of its range. The highest density populations are thought to be in Lope Reserve, Gabon, where there is a population of approximately 50,000 - 55,900 individuals (Brugiere 1998), in the Foret des Abeilles (central Gabon) where the population density is 25-30 animals/km², and in the Douala-Edea Reserve (Cameroon), where the density was estimated to be 38 animals/km² in 1978.

On Bioko, this species has undergone the biggest decline of all the primates -- more than 60% between the period 1986 and 2006 (Hearn et al. 2006). They were common species on Pico Basile in 1986, but have been heavily hunted in the Pico Basile National Park in the 2000s. They are now rare outside the Gran Caldera.

Population Trend:

Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	This species inhabits coastal evergreen, lowland moist, montane, and swamp forests. It is typically found high in the canopy of dense, primary rainforest, and is now only present in protected or undisturbed inaccessible areas. On Bioko, it has been observed on the montane heathland. It appears unable to survive in secondary forest, and is rare or absent in forests where logging has reduced canopy height. C. satanas is a highly arboreal, diurnal species. It feeds selectively on seeds and unripe fruits, and shows a strong preference for the leaves of lianas. Old leaves are less favoured, and only in sand-dune forest are they eaten with regularity. This species lives in groups averaging 15 individuals, and has an annual home range of approximately 60 ha.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

This species inhabits coastal evergreen, lowland moist, montane, and swamp forests. It is typically found high in the canopy of dense, primary rainforest, and is now only present in protected or undisturbed inaccessible areas. On Bioko, it has been observed on the montane heathland. It appears unable to survive in secondary forest, and is rare or absent in forests where logging has reduced canopy height. C. satanas is a highly arboreal, diurnal species. It feeds selectively on seeds and unripe fruits, and shows a strong preference for the leaves of lianas. Old leaves are less favoured, and only in sand-dune forest are they eaten with regularity. This species lives in groups averaging 15 individuals, and has an annual home range of approximately 60 ha.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	This species is threatened by habitat loss due to logging and forest clearance for agriculture. Its dependence on high-canopy habitats make it particularly susceptible to tree felling (Brugiere 1998). This species is also widely hunted for its meat and skin, with the populations on Bioko being under considerable pressure (Hearn et al. 2006).

Major Threat(s):

This species is threatened by habitat loss due to logging and forest clearance for agriculture. Its dependence on high-canopy habitats make it particularly susceptible to tree felling (Brugiere 1998). This species is also widely hunted for its meat and skin, with the populations on Bioko being under considerable pressure (Hearn et al. 2006).

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	This species is listed on Appendix II of CITES, and as Class B under the African Convention. This species needs effective protection against hunting, and its habitat must be protected. In Gabon, it is present in Lope Reserve (Gabon), where there is relatively good protection (Brugiere 1998), and also in the Foret des Abeilles, which is mostly allocated to logging concessions. Elsewhere, it is recorded from Monte Alen National Park in Rio Muni, and on Bioko from the Southern Highlands Scientific Reserve. Further data on the distribution and status of this species are required.

Conservation Actions:

This species is listed on Appendix II of CITES, and as Class B under the African Convention. This species needs effective protection against hunting, and its habitat must be protected. In Gabon, it is present in Lope Reserve (Gabon), where there is relatively good protection (Brugiere 1998), and also in the Foret des Abeilles, which is mostly allocated to logging concessions. Elsewhere, it is recorded from Monte Alen National Park in Rio Muni, and on Bioko from the Southern Highlands Scientific Reserve. Further data on the distribution and status of this species are required.

Bibliography [top]

	Brugiere, D. 1998. Population size of the black colobus monkey, Colobus satanas, and the impact of logging in Lope Reserve, Central Gabon. Biological Conservation 86: 15-20. Carpaneto, G. M. 1995. Occurrence of black colobus Colobus satanas in Northwestern Congo. African Primates 1(2): 42-44. Grubb, P., Butynski, T. M., Oates, J. F., Bearder, S. K., Disotell, T. R., Groves, C. P. and Struhsaker, T. T. 2003. Assessment of the Diversity of African Primates. International Journal of Primatology 24(6): 1301-1357. Hearn, G. W., Morra, W. A. and Butynski, T. M. 2006. Monkeys In Trouble: The Rapidly Deteriorating Conservation Status Of The Monkeys On Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea (2006). Report prepared by the Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program (BBPP).

Brugiere, D. 1998. Population size of the black colobus monkey, Colobus satanas, and the impact of logging in Lope Reserve, Central Gabon. Biological Conservation 86: 15-20.

Carpaneto, G. M. 1995. Occurrence of black colobus Colobus satanas in Northwestern Congo. African Primates 1(2): 42-44.

Grubb, P., Butynski, T. M., Oates, J. F., Bearder, S. K., Disotell, T. R., Groves, C. P. and Struhsaker, T. T. 2003. Assessment of the Diversity of African Primates. International Journal of Primatology 24(6): 1301-1357.

Hearn, G. W., Morra, W. A. and Butynski, T. M. 2006. Monkeys In Trouble: The Rapidly Deteriorating Conservation Status Of The Monkeys On Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea (2006). Report prepared by the Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program (BBPP).

Citation:	Oates, J.F., Kingdon, J., Groves, C.P. & Brugiere, D. 2008. Colobus satanas. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 10 February 2012.
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