In the Qinling Mountains of southwestern China, there is a mysterious and precious animal that wears golden fur and faces the sky with its nose high to the sky, as if praying to God. They are the Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkey and are the first species to be discovered in the genus Rhinosis monkey.
There are five species in the genus, in addition to the Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkey, there are Yunnan golden snub-nosed monkey, Qian golden snub-nosed monkey, Vietnamese golden snub-nosed monkey and Burmese golden snub-nosed monkey. They all live in dense forests above 2,000 meters above sea level, eating plant staple food and eating some animal food. They are social animals, with each large group consisting of multiple small families, each with a male leader and multiple female members. They have complex ways of communicating with each other, including voice, facial expressions, gestures, and touch.
The most distinctive feature of snug-nosed monkeys is their snout
Their nostrils are almost parallel to the face, commonly known as "sky-facing nose", which is characterized by adaptation to the hypoxic environment of the plateau, and the degradation of the nasal bridge bone is conducive to reducing the resistance to breathing in thin air. The monkey has other characteristics adapted to alpine life, such as the long hair on the body to keep warm, and the stomach has a special structure to digest cellulose.
The coat color of the genus Rhinosis varies
The Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkey is golden yellow, the Yunnan golden snub-nosed monkey and the Qianjin snub-nosed monkey are black-gray, the Vietnamese golden snub-nosed monkey is black, and the Burmese golden snub-nosed monkey is black with a white beard. These coat colors are adaptations of the genus in different geographical environments and are one of the differences between them and other primates.
The snug-nosed monkey is a social animal with a complex social structure and behavior
Each large group consists of multiple small families, each with a male leader and multiple female members. They have complex ways of communicating with each other, including voice, facial expressions, gestures, and touch. These social behaviors are one of the differences between the genus and other primates.
The five species of the genus Rhinosis have some ecological differences in addition to their appearance
For example, the Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkey and the Yunnan golden snub-nosed monkey are endemic species in China, mainly distributed in the Qinling Mountains and Hengduan Mountains, and are an important part of China's alpine forest ecosystem. The southernmost species of snub-nosed monkey in China, the golden snub-nosed monkey is distributed in the Maolan National Nature Reserve in Guizhou Province, and is the largest group of snub-nosed monkeys in China and one of the largest single primate groups in the world.
The Vietnamese golden snub-nosed monkey is endemic to Vietnam, they are distributed in the northern province of Tuyen Quang and are one of the rarest primates in Vietnam. The Burmese golden snub-nosed monkey is a recently discovered species of snub-nosed monkey that is found in Kachin State in northern Myanmar and is one of the rarest and most mysterious primates in the world.
The snub-nosed monkey is an endangered species that is mainly threatened by deforestation, illegal killing and human activities
It is estimated that there are currently no more than 20,000 monkeys in the world. The rarest of these are the Vietnamese golden snub-nosed monkey and the Burmese golden snub-nosed monkey, with only about 200 and 300 individuals, respectively. To protect these precious animals, the International Union for Conservation of Nature has added them to the Red List of Threatened Species and established a number of nature reserves and rescue centers.
Each of the five species of the genus Rhinosis has its own characteristics and charms, and they showcase the diversity and wonder of nature. They also face a variety of threats and challenges that require us to work together to protect them. Let's know more and care about these high mountain noses!