What distinguishes colobines from cercopithecines?

Colobines are distinguished from cercopithecines primarily by their dietary patterns. Colobines, which include monkey species such as the langurs and colobus monkeys, have adaptations for a folivorous diet, meaning they primarily consume leaves. Their specialized stomachs possess complex adaptations that allow them to digest cellulose-rich plant material more efficiently. On the other hand, cercopithecines, such as macaques and baboons, have a more varied diet that includes fruit, seeds, and other non-leaf vegetation, making them more flexible in their food sources.

While social structure, body size, and habitat preferences do show some differences between the two groups, these factors are not as defining as their dietary adaptations. Social structures can be complex in both groups, body sizes can vary widely depending on specific species, and habitat preferences can overlap significantly. Thus, it is the distinct dietary patterns that serve as the primary distinguishing factor between colobines and cercopithecines.