Proboscis Monkey

The Proboscis Monkey (Nasalis larvatus) is known in Malay as ‘Monyet Belanda’ which can also be translated as ‘Dutch monkey’, as Indonesians noticed the Dutch colonisers often also had a large belly and nose. It is also famously known as the Long-nosed Monkey. It is a reddish-brown monkey that is endemic to the south-east Asian island of Borneo. A distinctive trait of this monkey is the male's large protruding nose, from which it takes its name. It is thought to be used to attract females and is a characteristic of the males, reaching up to 7 inches in length. The females also have big noses, but not as big as the males. The nose also serves as a resonating chamber, amplifying their warning calls. When the animal becomes agitated its nose swells with blood, making warning calls louder and more intense.