Guereza is a word typically used to refer to a black and white colobus monkey found in East Africa. The word is spelled as /ɡwɛˈrɛzə/ in phonetic transcription, with the stress on the second syllable. The letter "g" is pronounced as a voiced velar stop /ɡ/, while the letter "u" is pronounced as a close back rounded vowel /u/. The letters "e" and "a" are pronounced as a close-mid front unrounded vowel /ɛ/ and a near-open front unrounded vowel /æ/, respectively.
Guereza, also known as Guereza colobus or Eastern black-and-white colobus, is a noun that refers to a species of arboreal primates belonging to the family Cercopithecidae and the genus Colobus. It is native to the forests of East and Central Africa, including countries such as Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The guereza is notable for its striking black and white appearance, characterized by a glossy black coat and a long white mantle. They have a distinctive tuft of white hair at the end of their tails. Adult males typically grow to around 70-90 centimeters in length, excluding the tail, and can weigh up to approximately 15 kilograms. Females are slightly smaller.
These monkeys are herbivorous and primarily feed on leaves, flowers, fruit, and seeds. They have a specialized digestive system that enables them to extract nutrients from the fibrous vegetation they consume.
Guerezas live in multi-male, multi-female groups, with their social structure centered around a dominant male. They communicate using a variety of vocalizations, body postures, and facial expressions.
They are considered an important species for forest ecosystems as they play a role in seed dispersal and forest regeneration. However, habitat loss due to deforestation and hunting pose significant threats to their survival in the wild. Conservation efforts are in place to protect these unique primates and their natural habitats.
The word "guereza" has its origins in the Cushitic language family, specifically the Ethiopian Semitic branch of Afro-Asiatic languages. It is derived from the Amharic word "gureze", which means "monkey" or "baboon". The Amharic language is predominantly spoken in Ethiopia and is one of the official languages of the country. Through borrowing and adaptation, the word "guereza" has been adopted into English and is used to refer to a species of arboreal Old World monkeys, also known as the black-and-white colobus.