Colobus habitats include primary and secondary forests, riverine forests, and wooded grasslands; they are found more in higher-density logged forests than in other primary forests. Their
ruminant-like digestive systems have enabled them to occupy niches that are inaccessible to other primates: they are
herbivorous, eating leaves, fruit, flowers, lichen, herbaceous vegetation and bark. Colobuses are important for
seed dispersal through their sloppy eating habits, as well as through their digestive systems. Leaf toughness influences colobus foraging efficiency. Tougher leaves correlate negatively with ingestion rate (g/min) as they are costly in terms of
mastication, but positively with investment (chews/g). Individuals spend approximately 150 minutes actively feeding each day.
Social patterns and morphology Colobuses live in territorial groups that vary in both size (3-15 individuals) and structure. It was originally believed that the structure of these groups consisted of one male and about 8 female members. However, more recent observations have shown variation in structure and the number of males within groups, with one species forming multi-male, multifemale groups in a multilevel society, and in some populations supergroups form exceeding 500 individuals. Colobuses do not display any type of seasonal breeding patterns. As suggested by their name, adult colobi have black fur with white features. White fur surrounds their facial region and a "U" shape of long white fur runs along the sides of their body. Newborn colobi are completely white with a pink face. Cases of
allomothering, whereby members of the troop other than the infant's biological mother care for it, are documented.
Allomothering is believed to increase inclusive fitness or maternal practice for the benefit of future offspring.
Social behaviours Many members participate in a greeting ritual when they are reunited with familiar individuals, an act of reaffirming. Groups seem to regularly switch up sleeping locations (suggested due to reducing risk of parasites and placement prediction) and generally do not sleep near other groups. They also tend to sleep more tightly together on nights with great visibility. They sleep in mid- to upper sections of tall trees which allows for predator watch as well as protection from ground and aerial predators while they are asleep. Although there is no obvious preference for tree type, they have often been observed in
Antiaris toxicaria. ==Conservation==