The Proboscis Monkey

The Proboscis Monkey :: WLR:-  The proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus) or long-nosed monkey, known as the bekantan in Malay, is a reddish-brown arboreal Old World monkey that is endemic to the south-east Asian island of Borneo. It belongs in the monotypic genus Nasalis, although the pig-tailed langur has traditionally also been included in this genus - a treatment still preferred by some. 

The monkey also goes by the Malay name monyet belanda ("Dutch monkey"), or even orang belanda ("Dutchman"), as Indonesians remarked that the Dutch colonisers often had a similarly large belly and nose.

The proboscis monkey is sexuality dimorphic. Males have a head-body length averaging 75.5 cm (29.7 in) and weigh on average 20kg (44.1 lb). Females average 62 cm (24.4 in) in length and weigh half as much as the males.  Further adding to the dimorphism is the large nose or proboscis of the male, which can exceed 10cm (3.9 in) in length , dwarfing that of the female, and hangs lower than the mouth.  Nevertheless, the nose of the female is still fairly large for a primate. The proboscis monkey has a nearly long coat. Dorsally, the fur is bright orange, reddish brown, yellowish brown or brick-red.  The fur is light-grey, yellowish, or greyish to light-orange ventrally.  The face is orange-pink. The male has a red penis with a black scrotum. Both sexes have over-sized stomachs that protrude and give the monkeys what resembles a pot belly. Many of the monkey’s toes are webbed

As a seasonal folivore and frugivore, the proboscis monkey eats primarily fruit and leaves.   It also eats flowers seeds and insects to a lesser extent. At least 55 different plant species have been recorded used as food sources, with a marked preference for Eugenia sp., Ganua motleyana and Lophopetalum javanicum.  Young leaves are preferred over mature leaves and unripe fruits are preferred over ripe fruit.   Being a seasonal eater, the proboscis monkey eats mostly fruit from January to May and mostly leaves from June to December.  Groups usually sleep in one or several trees that are nearby.  In habitats near rivers, monkeys sleep near the river. Proboscis monkeys will start the day feeding and then move further inland. Proboscis monkeys spend most of the daily resting, traveling, feeding and keeping vigilant.  Before dark, the monkeys move back near the river and feed again. Predators of the proboscis monkey include crocodiles, clouded leopards, eagles, monitor lizards and pythons. Monkeys will cross rivers at narrows or cross arboreally if possible. This may serve as predator avoidance

The Bobcat

The Bobcat :: WLR: -  The bobcat (Lynx rufus) is a North American mammal of the cat family Felidae, appearing during the Irvingtonian stage of around 1.8 million years ago (AEO).  With twelve recognized subspecies, it ranges from southern Canada to northern Mexico, including most of the continental United States. The bobcat is an adaptable predator that inhabits wooded areas, as well as semi-desert, urban edge, forest edges, and swampland environments. It persists in much of its original range and populations are healthy.

With a gray to brown coat, whiskered face, and black-tufted ears, the bobcat resembles the other species of the mid-sized Lynx genus. It is smaller than the Canada lynx, with which it shares parts of its range, but is about twice as large as the domestic cat. It has distinctive black bars on its forelegs and a black-tipped, stubby tail, from which it derives its name.

Though the bobcat prefers rabbits and hares, it will hunt anything from insects and small rodents to deer. Prey selection depends on location and habitat, season, and abundance. Like most cats, the bobcat is territorial and largely solitary, although there is some overlap in home ranges. It uses several methods to mark its territorial boundaries, including claw marks and deposits of urine or feces. The bobcat breeds from winter into spring and has a gestation period of about two months.

Although bobcats have been hunted extensively by humans, both for sport and fur, their population has proven resilient. The elusive predator features in Native American mythology and the folklore of European settlers.

There had been debate over whether to classify this species as Lynx rufus or Felis rufus as part of a wider issue regarding whether the four species of Lynx should be given their own genus, or be placed as a subgenus of Felis. The Lynx genus is now accepted, and the bobcat is listed as Lynx rufus in modern taxonomic sources.