Langur

According to langur meaning “Langur is an arboreal Asian monkey with a long tail and a distinctive loud call”. 

The word langur is usually attributed to roughly two dozen species of leaf monkeys, although it can also refer to other members of the subfamily. Langurs are arboreal monkeys with long tails and slender bodies that are sociable, diurnal, and essentially arboreal. On the Indian subcontinent, langurs are mostly found in forests, open lightly forested environments, and urban areas. The majority of species can be found at low to moderate altitudes, however, the Nepal grey langur and Kashmir grey langur can be found in the Himalayas up to 4,000 metres.

Taxonomy of Langur

• Langur species belong to the kingdom Animalia.

• The phylum of the main langur species is Chordata.

• The class of Langur is Mammalia.

• The order of langur is Primates, suborder is Haplorhini and the infraorder is Simiiformes.

• The main langur belongs to the family Cercopithecidae and subfamily Colobinae.

• There are two genera of the langur species which are Semnopithecus and Trachypithecus.

There are 10-15 species of langur belonging to the genus Semnopithecus which will be studied in the further section.

Types of Langur and Their Characteristics

In this section, we will learn about langur types, the langur meaning of each species and the characteristics of each type of langur.

• Northern Plains Grey Langur (Semnopithecus Entellus)

• The northern plains grey langur also known as the sacred langur, Bengal sacred langur and Hanuman langur is a primate species belonging to the Cercopithecidae family.

• Adults have light-coloured fur with darker fur on their backs and limbs.

• Face, ears, hands, and feet are all completely black. Brown fur is found in infants.

• The body length ranges from 45.1 centimetres to 78.4 centimetres without the tail, and the tail length ranges from 80.3 centimetres to 111.8 centimetres.

• Adult males often weigh between 16.9 and 19.5 kilograms, whereas adult females typically weigh between 9.5 and 16.1 kilograms.

• The range of the northern plains grey langur extends south of the Himalayas to the Tapti River and the Krishna River in India. Hindu pilgrims on the banks of the Jalangi River are supposed to have brought it to western Bangladesh.

• The northern plains grey langur is a diurnal, arboreal, and terrestrial species. Subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland are its native habitats.

• The northern plains grey langur can be found in a number of different groupings. It can live in numerous groups of men and females, one man and many females or several men with no females and men can live without a group. They may also live alone.

• The most common are single male groups. The size of a group of 100 monkeys may be higher. When mature, males depart from their homeland, but females usually remain.

• Typically, young adult females dominate older females. If a new male takes over a group, he may infancy the young male or male father, although it is less common if the takeover goes place slowly over many months.

• The northern plains grey langur consumes mostly fruits and leaves. It can thrive on mature leaves, which is crucial to its ability to endure the dry season.

• Seeds, flowers, buds, bark, and insects, particularly caterpillars, are also eaten.

• They also feed on fruits and vegetables received by humans, and some groups of langur receive a large percentage of their sustenance from temples and agricultural raiding.

• The pregnancy lasts roughly 200 days. For the first month of its development, females other than the mother alloparent the child. Weaning happens at the age of one year, and males reach maturity around the age of six to seven years.

• On the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, the northern plains grey langur is classified as Least Concern.

• The Hindu faith considers the northern plains grey langur to be sacred since it can adapt to a variety of habitats. As a result, it has a sizable population across India, including in towns and cities.

• It is vulnerable to a variety of dangers, including roadkill, dog attacks, forest fires, and infections spread by domestic animals.

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• Kashmir Grey Langur (Semnopithecus Ajax)

• One of the langur species is the Kashmir grey langur, which is an Old World monkey.

• It has been recorded in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh in northwestern India, although evidence suggests it only exists in Himachal Pradesh's Chamba Valley.

• It thrives in temperate and alpine woods at elevations of 2,200 to 4,000 metres and is arboreal and diurnal.

• The Kashmir grey langur's breeding season goes from January to June, with March accounting for about half of all births.

• Unlike most Asian colonies, infants are weaned at a younger age. While most Asian colonies wean their young during the first year, Kashmir grey langurs take an average of 25 months to wean their young. This is likely related to a lack of food, as monkeys in poorer areas wean their young at a later age.

• Females have an average interbirth gap of 2.4 years. In Kashmir's grey langur, alloparental care can last up to 5 months. Males are normally protective of their children, however, infanticide does occur on occasion.

• The IUCN Red List classifies it as Endangered because of its limited range, fragmented population, and threats from human agriculture and development.

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• Tarai Grey Langur (Semnopithecus Hector)

• The Tarai grey langur is found in the Himalayan foothills from Rajaji National Park to southwestern Bhutan and is native to northern India, Bhutan, and Nepal.

• It also lives in the Siwalik Hills' moist deciduous forest to oak forest, at altitudes ranging from 150 to 1,600 metres.

• Arboreal, mostly terrestrial, diurnal, folivorous, and found in multi-male multi-female groups, Tarai grey langurs are arboreal, mostly terrestrial, diurnal, and folivorous.

• Outside of Rajaji National Park, they have been seen foraging in orchards and agriculture fields.

• The species is designated as Near Threatened because there are likely fewer than 10,000 mature individuals left, and it is on the decline.

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• Black-Footed Grey Langur (Semnopithecus Hypoleucos)

• The Western Ghats, a mountain area on the southwestern coast of the Indian peninsula, is home to black-footed grey langurs, also known as dark-legged Malabar langurs and Malabar sacred langurs.

• They can be found in the patchy rainforests and deciduous or scrub forests of southern Karnataka, northern Kerala, and southwestern Maharashtra at altitudes ranging from 90 to 1200 metres. Some of these are designated as protected areas.

• Male black-footed grey langurs stand 75 cms tall and weigh 16–18 kg. They are taller and heavier than females, who stand 65 cm tall and weigh 9 kg on average. The length of their tails is 90–100 cm.

• These monkeys have a life expectancy of up to 30 years.

• Slender black-footed grey langurs have long limbs and delicate features. Their faces are dark trapezoidal in shape. Their eyes are hazelnut in hue and broad. Their nostrils are vertical and their nose makes a straight line down the centre of their face. Their chin is incredibly little, and behind their nose, their lips make a horizontal line.

• On the IUCN's Red List of Threatened Species, the black-footed grey langur is classified as Least Concern. The species has a wide distribution and has few challenges. The majority of the threats stem from habitat destruction and loss.

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• Tufted Grey Langur (Semnopithecus Priam)

• The tufted grey langur, also known as the Madras grey langur or the Coromandel sacred langur, is an Old World monkey that can be found on the continent of southeastern India and the island of Sri Lanka.

• They can be found in tropical dry and coastal woods all over the world. They can live comfortably in densely populated regions such as villages, cities, residential neighbourhoods, tourist sites, and temple grounds because of their capacity to adapt to human settlements.

• Polonnaruwa, Dambulla, Anuradhapura, and Sigiriya are just a few of the archaeologically significant locales where tufted grey langur populations can be discovered.

• Tufted grey langurs have a body length of 61.1 cm on average, but can be anywhere between 55 and 80 cm.

• They weigh an average of 12.8 kg. This places them in the middle of the grey langur size range, with males weighing 17.7 kg and females 15.8 kg on average.

• Grey langurs in the southern areas are often smaller than those in the northern ranges. Females are smaller than males in terms of sexual dimorphism.

• Females can live for more than 30 years, whereas males only live for about 18 years.

• Tufted grey langurs have a long, slender tail that is raised high over their bodies and is longer than the rest of their body.

• Their pelage is silky and brownish to light grey in colour.

• Their heads are pale, with a unique tuft of hair on the crown that meets a central point, resembling a small mohawk haircut.

• They have dark grey faces with thin ears protruding from either side of their heads.

• The hair around their feet is light-coloured, and their ventrum is a creamy yellow tint, while their digits are as dark grey as their face.

• The tufted grey langur is classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN. Their number is said to be declining, although the size of their global population is unclear. The gradual loss of their habitat in India's Andhra Pradesh signals a larger population fall. The habitat in Sri Lanka has declined by 50% in the last thirty years.

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• Nepal Grey Langur (Semnopithecus Schistaceus)

• The Nepal grey langur, also known as the central Himalayan langur, is found throughout the Himalayan region, from central Nepal to Tibet, as well as parts of Bhutan, India, and Pakistan.

• They are the northernmost grey langur population, and one of just a few colobine species that exist in temperate rather than tropical climates.

• Grey langurs may survive up to 4,000 metres above sea level, and their preferred habitat is temperate coniferous and broadleaf woods. However, grey langurs are adaptable to a wide range of habitat types, including human-dominated places like cities.

• Grey langurs from Nepal are larger than those from other grey langur species. Males are slightly larger than females, with the head and body being an average of 69 cm long. The species' only sexually dimorphic characteristic is a minor size difference.

• Males weigh 18 kg on average, while females weigh 16 kg on average.

• Grey langurs in captivity can survive into their early thirties. Males have been recorded living over 18 years in the wild, and females have been reported living over 30 years.

• The Nepal grey langur has a black face and a brownish-grey body. The face is framed by long, brilliant white hair that is unique from the rest of the body.

• Because the head and body of the Northern Plains grey langur have a uniform colour, this physical characteristic has been used to justify the designation of the Nepal grey langur as a separate species.

• The hands are dark brown or black, whereas the belly and chest are light grey or white.

• They have long tails and fingers that assist them to navigate among the woods.

• Nepal grey langurs are an unusually adaptable monkey species that has thrived as humanity's impact on the natural ecology has grown considerably over the last century. On the IUCN Red List, they are currently classified as Least Concern. Their population is decreasing despite their relative stability.

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• Purple-Faced Langur (Semnopithecus Vetulus)

• The purple-faced langur is only found in the tropical rainforests around Colombo in southwest Sri Lanka.

• Despite the fact that the species evolved to reside in tropical woods, over 90% of their habitat has been deforested, forcing them to coexist with humans in gardens and on rooftops. Forests that haven't been disturbed are small and extremely fragmented.

• Purple-faced langurs can grow to be between 44.7 and 67.3 cm long from head to toe. Their tails can be up to 85.1 cm long.

• Males are slightly heavier than females, weighing little under 8.5 kg vs slightly more than 7.8 kg for females.

• In captivity, these monkeys can live for up to 26 years on average.

• There is very little sexual dimorphism between males and females, aside from weight.

• The colour of the western purple-faced langur varies, although he normally has light brown and white fur on his head and black skin on his face. Their back is a mix of brown and grey, while the rump and tail are silvery-grey.

• The lighter, greyer fur colour of Western purple-faced langurs distinguishes them from other subspecies.

• According to the IUCN, the International Primatological Society, and Conservation International's 2016-2018 and 2018-2020 assessments, the western purple-faced langur is Critically Endangered and one of the world's 25 most endangered primates.

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• Nilgiri Langur (Semnopithecus Johnii)

• The Nilgiri langur, also known as the hooded leaf monkey, black leaf monkey, Indian hooded leaf monkey, John's langur, Nilgiri black langur, and Nilgiri leaf monkey, is a species of Old World monkey indigenous to South India. 

• It can be found in the Western Ghats, mainly in the Nilgiri Hills, from which it gets its name, but also in other mountainous locations.

• They like to reside between 300 and 2,000 metres above sea level, with the average being around 1,400 metres. Because they are arboreal, they prefer a habitat with trees and have been found in secondary moist deciduous and evergreen forests. Distance from humans and accessibility to water are two other factors to consider.

• Male Nilgiri langurs are 1.2 times larger than females as adults.

• From the top of their heads to the base of their tails, this species typically measures 49–71 cm in length, with long tails ranging from 69–97 cm in length.

• They can weigh anything between 10 and 14 kg.

• The longevity of the Nilgiri langur is unknown, but they have lived in captivity for 29 years.

• The Nilgiri langur is an extremely attractive primate, with thick black fur and a flaxen, sometimes reddish mane around their black, hairless faces.

• Unlike males, females have white fur patches on their thighs. Both males and females have enormous, black eyes that contrast sharply with their large, white teeth.

• Their tails are extremely lengthy. It takes 10 weeks for a baby's pelage to mature into an adult pelage.

• The colouration of the Nilgiri langur is similar to that of the lion-tailed macaque, which is also endemic to the Western Ghats and to which it is frequently compared.

• The International Union for Conservation of Nature has classified the Nilgiri langur as Vulnerable, and it is listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Poaching, habitat degradation, the pet trade, fires, and other hazards beset them.

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• Gee's Golden Langur (Trachypithecus Geei)

• The shy and highly endangered Gee's golden langur can be found along the Indian-Bhutanese border, where it has adapted to a variety of conditions and altitudes.

• Golden langurs live in a territory defined by four distinct geographical points: the foothills of Bhutan in the north, the Brahmaputra River in the south, the Manas River in the east, and the Sankosh River in the west.

• Golden langurs can reach 50-75 cm in length, with a tasselled tail that can reach another 70-100 cm.

• Males are slightly larger than females, weighing 10.8kg compared to 9.5kg for females.

• There is no information about the golden langur's lifespan.

• The golden langur is a slim and long-limbed bird whose name comes from the beautiful colours of her coat, which is a lovely golden-to-creamy white that reddens and darkens in the winter.

• On the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species, the Gee's golden langur is listed as Endangered.

• In addition, the Gee's golden langur is listed among the World's 25 Most Endangered Primates in the International Primatological Society's 2016-2018 and 2018-2020 publications.

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• Francois’s Langur (Trachypithecus Francoisi)

• Francois' langurs, also known as Tonkin langurs and Tonkin leaf monkeys, reside in the woods that develop along the steep ledges of limestone mountains known as karst, which are a distinctive feature of the scenery of northern Vietnam and southern China.

• Francois' langurs are about 60 centimetres tall. Males weigh 6.5–7.8 kg on average, slightly more than girls, who weigh 5.5–7.9 kg on average.

• In the wild, the average lifespan of this species is unknown. Despite their unsuitability for confinement, captive Francois's langurs have been known to live up to 25 years.

• Francois' langurs have thin bodies and are nimble and acrobatic monkeys. As they crawl up and down grey karst rocks and leap between the trees that overhang their steep ledges, their dark, hairy shapes appear to be only shadows.

• Their long muscular fingers and lanky limbs are their best defence against a fatal slip and tumble down the edge of their mountain houses. They have an outstanding sense of balance because of a tail that is longer than their torso.

• Their skin is as black as the fur on their faces, hands, and feet. A tuft of hair rises to a triangle peak over a gull-shaped brow ridge. Their black ears are ringed with dazzling white hair at the peaks that continues down their cheeks as white sideburns.

• The Francois's langur is listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Their overall population has decreased by more than half in the previous 40 years, and this trend is certain to continue.

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Conclusion

In this article, we got to know about the meaning of langur, different species of langur and their characteristics, habitat and physical appearance. Langurs are leaf-eating monkeys with a multi-chambered stomach that allows them to digest tough plant food in between feedings. Their large stomach is due to their sophisticated digestive system. Langurs eat a high-fibre diet that includes anything from leaves and unripe fruits to bark and flowers, which is slowly digested by their specific gut flora during their long periods of repose. Langurs do not use their tails to move or retain anything, despite having a long to very long tail. Precisely because it is not prehensile, the tail is not prehensile. The tail of a Langur, on the other hand, is solely dedicated to assisting them in maintaining balance while travelling on branches or jumping through the forest canopy. Nature has blessed Langurs with an extraordinary design that allows them to jump up to 12 metres from one point to another. This tail is also used by some Langurs to communicate.