Foods Eaten by the Sichuan Snub‐ N osed Monkey ( R hinopithecus roxellana) in Shennongjia National Nature Reserve, China, in Relation to Nutritional Chemistry

Lichens serve as a crucial, year-round food source for the Sichuan snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana) in Shennongjia National Nature Reserve, China, providing high water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC) and fat while avoiding feeding deterrents like fiber, condensed tannins, or total phenolics. This first nutritional chemistry analysis of their diet reveals that lichens supplement seasonal plant foods—such as foliage, flowers, buds, and seeds—which are rich in protein, WSC, and fat. Monkeys selectively consume mature leaves with higher WSC and lower fiber, while fruits and seeds offer optimal fat content. The study suggests that R. roxellana strategically balances nutrition from lichens and seasonal plant parts to meet dietary needs, even in habitats with limited food availability.

LIU, X., STANFORD, C. B., YANG, J., YAO, H., & LI, Y. (2013). Foods Eaten by the Sichuan Snub‐Nosed Monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana) in Shennongjia National Nature Reserve, China, in Relation to Nutritional Chemistry. American Journal of Primatology, 75(8), 860–871. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajp.22149