Golden Snub-nosed Monkey Rhinopithecus roxellana

The Golden Snub-nosed Monkey is native to an area of high altitude mountain forests of south-central China.

The male (above left and right) is much larger than the female (above centre) and has longer hair on the mantle, a darker crown stripe and more prominent "fangs".

Its coat allows it to withstand the coldest temperatures of any monkey, possibly more so than the "Snow Monkey" (Japanese Macaque). It is one of five species of snub-nosed monkey, all extremely rare Southeast Asian primates and all endangered or critically endangered. Shown is the nominal subspecies, the Moupin Golden Snub-nosed, of Sichuan.

Despite the sharp canine teeth of the alpha males (for fighting), it is mainly herbivorous, with a diet of leaves and fruit. It is also mainly arboreal.

They are a social species forming small groups comprising mainly an adult alpha male with females and offspring, though several such small groups often come together as a larger, multi-unit group. They are endangered by habitat loss from deforestation.