Proboscis+Monkey

Kingdom: **[|Animalia]** → Phylum: **[|Chordata]** Class: **[|Mammalia]** → Order: **[|Primates]** Suborder: **[|Haplorrhini]** → Infraorder: **[|Simiiformes]** Parvorder: **[|Catarrhini]** → Superfamily: **[|Cercopithecoidea]** Family: **[|Cercopithecidae]** → Subfamily **[|Colobinae]** Genus: **Nasalis** → **S**pecies **[|larvatus]**
 * __Proboscis Monkey__**

Location/Habitat: [|Borneo]

__**Habitat**__

The Nasalis Larvatus, commonly called the Proboscis monkey, Beekantan, or long-nosed monkey, is an endangered species of primates only found in Borneo, namely Kalimantan, but also Sarawak, Brunei, and Sabah. The weather in Borneo is rainy, but warm all year round. Proboscis monkeys normally live in groups of twelve to twenty-seven male individuals, or a four to nine monkey harem consisting of one male and many females. Traveling often, they move between mangrove forests, lowlands, swamps, riverines, and riparian forests. The Nasalis Larvatus is the only medium animal living in the canopy. Its diet consists of 95% mangrove and pedada tree leaves, 5% fruits and seeds. The Nasalis Larvatus is a diurnal, amphibious, and arboreal primate, although it sleeps and eats up in the canopy. It lives on average between 13.5 to 20 years. The babies are born with deep blue faces, and change color over three or four months. They have a gestation period of 166 days. Babies stay with their mothers for a year, or until she has another infant. The males reach sexual maturity after four or five years, and females in four. The Proboscis monkey’s main predators are humans, because we destroy their habitat, but also clouded leopards and crocodile. The Nasalis Larvatus is closely related to asian lemurs and [|Ape]s, although it is also distantly related to chimpanzees, baboons and gorillas.

__**Adaptations**__ Through descent with modification, the Nasalis Larvatus Species has many traits shared with those within its class, order, family, and/or genus, but also several notable derived characteristics. The Nasalis Larvatus most distinctive derived character is the exceptionally large nose size, especially that of the male, in comparison to other primates. Normally around 3.5 inches in length (8.9cm), the male monkey’s bulbous nose grows with age, and can be up to seven inches long (17.8cm), or a quarter of their body length. The precise purpose of this physical adaptations is unknown, but there are several theories. Scientists suggest that the large nose assists the monkey’s survival and ability to reproduce. A large nose might help survival by swelling and turning red whenever the monkey becomes agitated and angry, thereby acting as a resonator and amplifying the loud honking noise when the monkey vocalizes. This aids the monkey in that the Nasalis Larvatus because it can then make a louder and more noticeable warning call, saving more monkeys of its own species by telling them to run away. The environmental factor that caused this was the Nasalis Larvatus’ need of a loud warning signal in order to give them time to move away from the predator. Since the Nasalis Larvatus moves fairly slowly, it needs the superior warning system that the nose provides. The environmental factor that caused this was the necessity for the monkeys to warn one another when they sensed danger and the need to flee from predators and not be eaten. For example, a male Nasalis Larvatus watching over his feeding harem might spot a //clouded leopard//, the Nasalis Larvatus’ main predator other than man. In this case, he would call a warning sound with his large nose amplifying it. This may be due to the attraction of being with a male who can make a louder warning signal, and therefore act as a better protector. An alternative reason for the abnormally large nose is that the nose may act as a cooling device, and be a physiological adaptation. Since the male is often twice as large as the female, it is more susceptible to overheating. The nose could cool off the male by allowing warm blood into the large nose, which could radiate excess body heat. This helps the monkey survive by stopping males from weakening or dying due to overheating. In turn, this makes it so that there are enough male Nasalis Larvatus alive for the reproduction and survival of the species. The environmental factor that caused this was the hot weather of Borneo, which requires the male Nasalis Larvatus to have the ability to stay cool in order to not overheat and survive. Another possibility for the exceptionally large noses is that the nose may act as an indicator genetic desirability and mate choice. It has been suggested that Females are attracted to males with larger noses as the can make louder warning signals, making that male a better protector. Since noses grow larger with age, a larger nose may be preferred as males with larger noses are older, and therefore more fit and successful breeders. This helps males with larger noses to reproduce more as females consider them to be superior to males with smaller noses. Although a diurnal and arboreal monkey like other Old World Monkeys, the Nasalis Larvatus is different because it is more aquatic than all other monkeys. The partially webbed feet, a physical adaptation, allow the Nasalis Larvatus to move both on land and in the water. This helps it survive as the monkey can travel to places with more food even if it means moving across water, and the monkey can escape some predators by jumping into the water. The environmental factor that caused this was the surrounding water, and marshes. The Proboscis Monkey needs to be able to travel through all due to predation pressure caused by land predators as well as the necessity of finding new vegetation for food. For example, if a Nasilis Larvatus is in the treetop near the water, and a clouded leopard approaches, the Nasilis Larvatus can easily jump from a 50 feet high canopy into the water, where it can then swim to safety. An example of migration for food, is when entire groups swim from island to island. Another unusual adaptation of the Proboscis Monkey is its ability to use bipedalism, like a human, for long periods of time. The only other non-human mammals that are gibbons and giant pangolins. This behavioral adaptation helps it survive by allowing the animal to raise its head in order to see things from greater distances, allow for deeper wading in water, and it frees the additional limbs can be used for other purposes. The environmental factor that caused this was the need to travel easily and run from predators. For example, a group of Proboscis monkeys who have the capability to and are standing upright will see a predator before a group of Proboscis monkeys who travel quadrupedally. The bipedal group can also move away faster by using arms to move branches while using its hind legs to move. The bipedal group is therefore more likely to survive.

The Proboscis monkey’s complicated stomach consists of a sacculated forestomach and a glandular stomach, which, when full, accounts for ¼ of the monkey’s weight. This helps the Proboscis monkey to consume more leaves, which is a fibrous but low nutrition diet. Since the leaves are low in nutrition, Proboscis monkeys need the complicated and large stomach so that it can consume enough leaves to enable survival. Having this stomach allows the Nasalis Larvatus to regularly regurgitate and rechew its food, a behavioral adaptation. This allows for increased food intake as food will be digested quicker if rechewed. The Proboscis monkey is the only primate that is known to do so. The environmental factor that caused both these traits is the availability of large amounts of leaves which became the Proboscis monkey’s main diet.

With males (73-76cm long, 21kg) being twice as large as female ( 61-64cm, 10kg), the Proboscis Monkey has the most sexual dimorphism of all primates. This physical adaptation allows males to be more fit, and therefore reproduce more. The environmental pressure that caused this was the selection pressure for traits allowing males to mate more. Since a male can mate with many females but not vice versa, the males reproductive fitness is more important than that of the female. For example, a male in his harem would be able to mate with several females, so if it is stronger and larger, it could mate more and pass on its genes. A female, on the other hand, can only have one baby at a time, so there is no benefit in mating several times. Therefore, the male should be stronger so it can mate more.





**__Ancestor:__ __Aegyptopithecus Zeuxis__**

Kingdom: ** [|Animalia] ** → Phylum: ** [|Chordata] ** Class: ** [|Mammalia] ** → Order: ** [|Primates] ** Suborder: ** [|Haplorrhini] **→ Infraorder: ** [|Simiiformes] ** Superfamily: **[|Propliopithecoidea]**→ Family: **Propliopithecidae** Genus: **Aegyptopithecus** → **S**pecies **A[|egyptopithecus Zeuxis]**

Location/Habitat: [|Borneo]


 * __Habitat__**

The Aegyptopithecus Zeuxis, or the Linking Egyptian [|Ape], is an ancestor of all Old World Monkeys. From the early Ogliocene Epoch, Aegyptopithecus lived 33-35 million years ago in Africa and Egypt. They lived in the Fayum area of northern Egypt, as well as other places in Africa. At the time, Egypt was subtropical and heavily vegetated, with many trees and high amounts of rainfall. The Aegyptopithecus was a quadruped like many mammals, such as canines (like the arctic fox), felines (like the snow leopard), and other primates (like the baboon), the Aegyptopithecus is also small in size, being around 150mm long, and 6-7kg. The Aegyptopithecus was likely a frugivore. As a frugivore, the Aegyptopithecus Zeuxis is a primary consumer. The Aegyptopithicus is an arboreal quadruped, living in the canopy. The Aegyptopithicus would have had leopards and other large felines as predators.

The Aegyptopithecus zeuxis has adapted to have a full set of 32 compartmentalizing shearing teeth in the dental formula of 2:1:2:3. A frugivore (like the baboon), the physical adaption of compartmentalizing shearing allows food to be cut into fragments, trapped, and then ground. The lower molars also increase in size from front to back, maximizing the compartmentalizing shear. This helps the Aegyptopithecus to consume fruit in a more effective and efficient manner, therefore eating more, geing more healthy, and increasing chances of survival. The environmental factor that may have caused this was the large amount of fruit in the surroundings, which caused the Aegyptopithecus to greatly rely on fruit for its diet. For example, of two male Aegyptopithecus, one has teeth which compartmentalizing shear, and the other does not. The one who does finishes eating faster, and can move on to eat more fruit. He therefore grows bigger, and due to the selection pressure of females preferring stronger and healthier males, the male with the compartmentalizing shearing adaption would mate and reproduce more.

The Aegyptopithecus physically adapted to have phalanges on its hands and feet, including a grasping hallux on its foot. This helped the monkey be more arboreally adept, helping it run and move through trees faster in order to escape predators and survive. The environmental factor that may have caused this was probably the Aegyptopithecus’ need to climb in trees to get food (fruits, leaves), and speed needed in order to escape from predators while in the trees. For example, if there are two monkeys, and one has phalanges on its hands and feet as well as a hallux on its foot, the one with these traits can climb the tree faster, eating more. Since it eats more, this monkey will be more healthy and reproduce more often. If both this monkey and the monkey without the traits were in a tree, and a clouded leopard approached, both monkeys would take off. However, the monkey with the phalanges and hallux would most likely be able to escape faster, and the other would be slower and more likely to become the clouded leopard’s next meal.

The Aegyptopithecus also acquired the physical adaption of being able to rotate its head to face posteriorly. This allows this Old World Monkey to look in all directions so it can be aware of its surroundings and predators, helping it acquire what it needs and identify danger when it approaches. The environmental factor that caused this was the predation pressure caused by the large amount of predators. For example, if a predator were to approach two Aegyptopithecus, one of which was capable of turning its head posteriorly and the other not, it is likely the one with the capacity to would see the predator first. It would then be able to start running away before the other one.

The Aegyptopthecus also has the physical adaption of sexually dimorphism. This allows males to be more fit, and therefore reproduce more. The environmental pressure that caused this was the selection pressure for traits allowing males to mate more. Since a male can mate with many females but not vice versa, the males reproductive fitness is more important than that of the female. For example, a male mating with several females passes on more of its genes, including the likelihood of having genes that make the male larger. Females on the other hand, only have one child at a time, so having more strength to mate more is non-benefitial.

An important physiological adaption the Aegyptopthecus acquired was having an expanded visual cortex in comparison to the size of the rest of its brain. This allowed for the Aegyptopthecus to process what it saw fast, including surroundings and predators, helping it acquire what it needs and identify danger when it approaches. The environmental factor that caused this was the predation pressure caused by the large amount of predators. For example, if a predator were to approach two Aegyptopithecus, one of which was capable of seeing more and reacting faster would move quicker in order to escape.


 * __Selection Pressure Leading to Extinction__**

The Aegyptopthecus, though well-adapted to its initial environment, went extinct like many surrounding Oligocene land mammals. The world went through global cooling, shifting many biomes. Although the area occupied by the Aegyptopithicus was initially jungle and rainforest, it was replaced with more temperate savannahs. The Aegyptopithecus had lived in the Fayum area of North Egypt. This area had been subtopical, and heavily vegetated with seasonal rainfall. However, with the global cooling, it became how it is today, semiarid and lacking in vegetation. Due to the sudden change in environment and surroundings, challenged the Aegyptopithecus, which relied on fruits and vegetation for food. When the area became semiarid, there was less food, so the Aegyptopithecus died out.



**__Future Animal: Proboscis Monkey Descendant__**

Location/Habitat: [|Borneo]
 * __Habitat__**

Due to Global Warming, the future Proboscis Monkey descendant will face many environmental pressusre that will force it to change. Many primates such as chimpanzees, baboons and gorillas will also face this issue. The Proboscis Monkey's current habitat of Borneo, which consists of mangrove forests, lowlands, swamps, rivers, and riparian forest, will become hotter and wetter than what it already is. There will be more swamps and rivers. Water levels around the islands will also rise. Due to more gases being emitted, an increase of greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide can be expected. The Carbon dioxide will lead to more plant growth, and an increase in the future Proboscis Monkey descendant’s food supply. However, Proboscis Monkey’s will and currently are also facing deforestation and loss of a habitat due to the activity of humans. Predators of the future Proboscis monkey will likely still be crocodiles and large felines. In this habitat, the future Proboscis Monkey descendant will still play the role of a primary consumer. The increased amounts of carbon dioxide will lead to more plant growth and food resource for the Proboscis Monkey. Therefore, in the future, the Proboscis monkey descendant may be stronger, and increase in population due to the increase in leaves (their main food resource.) This would be advantageous for the future Proboscis monkey descendant as it currently does not move very quickly. If it moved faster, it could escape from predators quicker, increasing its chance of survival. The environmental factor that will cause this is the need to escape from the predator, and increase in food supply. For example, if a clouded leopard is chasing it, the monkey can run move faster due to having more strength, and have a better chance of escaping. Fewer trees caused by deforestation mean that the future Proboscis monkey descendant may need to spend more time on ground. As a result of spending more time on the ground, the Proboscis monkey will need to become faster and more agile on the ground to escape from predators, thereby developing long legs. The environmental factor that will cause this is the lack of trees, and necessity to move quickly on the ground in order to escape predators. For example, if a clouded leopard is chasing it, the monkey can run move faster due to having longer limbs, and therefore have a better chance of escaping.

The world becoming hotter is something all animals must face. To combat this, the future Proboscis monkey descendant will have to have a method of self-cooling. Due to the heat, the future Proboscis monkey descendant may adapt to have more eccrine and apocrine sweat glands so it can perspire more as a cooling mechanism. The environmental factor that will cause this is the rising heat. In order to stop overheating, the future Proboscis monkey descendant will be able to perspire and cool off.

Global warming will cause higher water levels and more rainfall. As a result of this, the future Proboscis monkey descendant will spend more time in swamps and water. It’s current partially webbed feet may evolve in to retractable and fully webbed paws, so that the Proboscis monkey can travel even better in water and on land. This helps the animal to survive by allowing it to swim faster and escape water predators and travel easily. The environmental factor that will cause this is the increasing swamps, rivers, and water levels. The descendant will therefore need to swim better. For example, as the water level rises, the Proboscis monkey descendant may wish to go to another island, so it will swim across. If there is a crocodile, the descendent can swim faster and have a larger chance of escaping.

The higher water levels will lead to increased time spent in the water. Therefore, the future Proboscis Monkey descendant could develop waterproof fur. Like the beaver, and the otter, it may be able to develop castoreum/castor oil, a water repellent oil, which can be distributed through its hair follicles. This would allow the animal to spend more time in the water without damaging skin or hair follicles. This would help it to spend time in the water. The environmental factor that will cause this is the increasing swamps, rivers, and water levels. The descendant will therefore need to swim better and for longer time periods. For example, the monkey may need to swim a longer distance to another island due to the higher water level.
 * __Selection Pressure Leading to Future Extinction__**

The future Proboscis Monkey descendant may succumb to sudden natural disasters, such as earth quakes or floods, or die off due to the deforestation made by humans. Natural disasters such as earth quakes or floods may ruin the animal's habitat, so that it can no longer survive. Deforestation is also a large issue, since the Proboscis Monkey descendant will not be able to adapt enough that it could survive as a carnivore eating other animals. If humans cut down too many trees, the future descendant will not have enough food to survive.



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