Vocalizations, phylogeny and palaeogeography of red colobus monkeys (Colobus badius)

Summary Vocalizations from eight of the fourteen subspecies of red colobus monkeys were compared to the present-day distribution of these subspecies and the hypothetical locations of upper Pleistocene forest refugia. Many of the similarities and differences in vocalizations of these subspecies can best be understood in terms of their refuge areas in the past. The degree of vocal similarity between subspecies presumably depends upon which upper Pleistocene forest refugia they originated from, how long they have been geographically separated and the selection pressures and rates of evolution acting on the vocalizations. In addition to suggesting forest refugia from which the various subspecies of red colobus originated, predictions are made about vocal similarities of subspecies which have not previously been studied. Finally, a general critique is given on the relative values of coat colour, craniology and vocalizations in the study of phylogeny among old world monkeys. RESUMEE Les vocalisations de huit de quatorze sous-especes de Colobe rouge furent comparees avec la distribution actuelle de-ces sous-especes et les localisations hypothetiques des refuges forestiers du Pleistocene superieur. De nombreuses ressemblances et differences de vocalisations sont le mieux comprises en fonction de leur refuge dans le passe. Le degre de resemblance vocale entre 2 sous-especes depend probablement du refuge forestier au Pleistocene superieur, de la periode a laquelle elles ont ete geographiquement separees et des pressions selectives et tout d'evolution jouant sur les vocalisations. Outre la suggestion des refuges forestiers desquels les Colobes rouges proviennent, des predictions sont avancees concernant des ressemblances vocales du sous-espkees non encore etudiees. Enfin, une critique generale est formulee sur la couleur relative du pelage, la craniologie et les vocalisations dans le cadre de l'etude de la phyllogenie des singes de l'ancienmonde.