Colobuses

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of Old World monkey known for its long limbs and tail
2. Exhibiting a distinct anatomical adaptation, these primates often have a specialized digestive system for a folivorous diet
3. Found primarily in forests of Africa and Asia, they are recognized for their social structures and vocalizations

Etymology: "Colobuses" is the plural of "colobus," a name for the leaf-eating monkeys of African and Asian forests. The singular comes from a modern scientific coinage: Johann Karl Wilhelm Illiger gave the genus its name in 1811, borrowing the Greek "kolobos," meaning "docked" or "mutilated," because these monkeys have a very small thumb or none at all.

Synonyms: monkeys, primates