Shivering Simians

The Japanese macaque is also known as the snow monkey (you can read more about them in my Masterful Macaques post), but it is not the only snow dweller among nonhuman primates.  The golden snub-nosed monkey lives in central and southeast China in mountainous forests where the snow also flies part of the year.  It can withstand the coldest temperatures of any nonhuman primate and doesn't have the luxury of hot springs to keep it warm.  The golden snub-nose is also known as the Sichuan golden hair monkey and it has adapted to its territory by having a long luxurious coat.  You've heard the phrase 'blue with cold'?  Maybe that explains the bluish tint to its unusual face.

Source:  Wikipedia

Because of seasonal changes, their diet varies from buds, leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds and the occasional nsect in warmer temperatures, to lichens and bark in the winter.  These special monkeys live in groups of 5 to 10 individuals consisting of one male, several females and their young.  But then these 'families' are often joined by many other families, and groups of up to 600 individuals are not uncommon, providing safety in numbers from predators, and many eyes on the lookout for danger.  When a threat does occur, the youngsters are protected in the center of the group and the larger males on the outside.  Females and youngsters often sleep together too offering warmth by snuggling together.

The males are larger than the females and easily recognized by a 'wart-like' marking at the corners of their mouth.  The amount of orange in their coats increases as they get older.

Source:  Wikipedia

Snub-nosed monkeys are endangered due to habitat loss and fragmentation.  Unfortunately, they are also sometimes hunted for their meat and luxurious fur.  Their bones are considered by some to have medicinal properties.

To see a video, click here and here.