Nose-y Monkeys

https://www.wrs.com.sg/en/singapore-zoo/animals-and-zones/proboscis-monkey.html

Not paying attention in my geology class, I decided to look up “animals with weird noses” in Google. While many animals came up, the proboscis monkey fascinated me the most by far.

The proboscis monkey is a monkey that resides primarily in Indonesia and Malaysia. It is an endangered species that is often only recognized or known for its abnormalities and strange qualities. To those who know of them, proboscis monkeys are considered the “Clown of the Jungle”. While most people find their abnormalities weird and ugly, I tend to find them far more fascinating than any other animal.

The first thing that stands out to people is the proboscis monkey’s unusually large nose. Male proboscis monkeys tend to have far larger noses in comparison to the female. While many point to this facial feature to argue that proboscis monkeys are disgusting and ugly, I point to this facial feature to argue that proboscis monkeys are beautiful and unique. Witnessing them can be an incredible experience.

The nose of the proboscis monkey serves many unique purposes. The shape and length allow proboscis monkeys to use noses as a snorkel device in the water. This helps them swim better than most other types of monkeys with more efficiency. Additionally, their noses help the males develop deeper and richer sounds when calling the females or family by acting as an echo chamber. The deeper the voice, the more likely females and/or the family will pay respect the call. Lastly, the males use their noses to attract females. The larger the nose, the more likely a female is to desire to mate with the male possessing the large nose. This leads to the development of harems because the larger the nose, the more likely a male proboscis monkey will become the Alpha Male and increase the size of their harem.

https://animalsake.com/facts-about-proboscis-monkeys-you-didnt-know

Another abnormality of the proboscis monkey relies in its diet. Proboscis monkeys only consume unripened fruit, leading to large chambered stomachs that make the proboscis monkey appear potbellied. Their digestive system is complex and relies on a host of symbiotic bacteria, leading to a lot of inconvenience with the prevalence of deforestation.

However, the weirdest feature of the proboscis monkey is its genitalia. Male proboscis monkeys have bright red, permanently erect genitalia. However, unlike the other abnormalities, scientists are unable to find a reason behind such a phenomenon.

An animal with so many abnormalities and that possess such intriguing qualities inspires me to figure out more about the natural world that we do not know much about. Although the proboscis monkey is weird, it is unique and fascinating.