Golden monkey is one of the symbols of China. Her image can often be found on old vases and silk canvases. However, it looks much more spectacular live. And everyone who sees her for the first time, involuntarily thinks about that, but is she really an ordinary beast?
View Features
The Golden Monkey (Golden Monkey in English) is an amazing representative of the Monkey family. In China, it has long been considered one of the symbols of wealth, and therefore its image is engraved on many amulets, paintings and vases. But Europeans have long been convinced that the golden monkey is just a mythical character that has nothing to do with reality.
What was their surprise when, in the second half of the 19th century, the English priest Arman David brought proof of the existence of this species. This news made a lot of hype in the scientific community. This was the impetus for the French naturalist scientist Milne-Edwards to go to China to study primacy. It was he who later gave the golden snub-nosed monkey the scientific name Rhinopithecus roxellana.
Area
Golden monkey lives only in the territory of South and Central China. At the same time, Sichuan Province is considered her favorite place. This is easily explained by the fact that there is a national reserve, and the order in it is strictly protected by law.
In early 2010, there were rumors that a small population of these primates also lives in northeast Burma. However, further research has led to the fact that the Burmese snub-nosed monkey lost the status of "golden". And all because she did not have the right coat color. As a result, this primacy was reckoned as a separate subspecies, and China, as before, remained the only habitat of a unique beast.
Golden monkey: description
This species is a typical representative of monkeys. These are medium sized primates. Their growth varies from 60 to 75 cm. Moreover, females are much larger than males. So, if the second weigh about 15-18 kg, then the first can reach 30 kg or more. This difference is especially noticeable in the summer, when all members of the pack eat well.
But color is just what makes a monkey stand out. The golden coat of the primate shines in the sun. In its rays, it turns bright orange, as if the flame itself froze in it. It should be noted that the fur is very thick. Thanks to this, the golden monkey does not freeze even in winter, when the temperature drops below zero.
The face of this animal looks no less funny. The first thing that catches your eye is her blue “mask”, covering almost the entire face. It is she who gives the beast that mystical halo that constantly hovers around him. The nose of the monkey also looks very funny: it is very upturned, as if an invisible finger is pressing it.
Behavior features
Golden snub-nosed monkey is a socially active animal. She prefers to settle in large groups of 40-50 individuals. As a house, she chooses a large tree or cliff, which becomes the heart of the colony. This is necessary in order to protect themselves from land enemies, as well as establish the center of their territory.
The male always becomes the head of the family. The leader's title allows him to mate with the most attractive females. Often in his harem there are about 5-7 "girls". Below the hierarchy are young and strong males. Any of them can take the place of a leader if he wins an honest fight.
Regarding the duels themselves, they most often take place remotely. Opponents are just trying to scream each other. The winner is the one who lasts the longest or can demonstrate the most formidable voice. Thus, not only paired competitions, but also group competitions take place. The latter take place during territorial conflicts, which, although rare, still occur.
Diet
To begin with, this is a fully herbivorous monkey. Golden snub-nosed monkey eats only fruits, berries and plants. Her favorite delicacy is the young shoots of bamboo, as well as the bulbs of iris. But in the absence of the latter, it can calmly satisfy hunger with the help of succulent leaves or grass.
A worse snub-nosed monkey falls in the winter. When snow covers the earth, it remains to look for the remnants of unfrozen greenery, thin branches, moss and spruce needles. Also on such days, the golden monkey tries to move as little as possible so as not to waste precious energy.
