Germain's langur [1] | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Primates |
Suborder: | Haplorhini |
Infraorder: | Simiiformes |
Family: | Cercopithecidae |
Genus: | Trachypithecus |
Species group: | Trachypithecus cristatus group |
Species: | T. germaini
|
Binomial name | |
Trachypithecus germaini (
A. Milne-Edwards, 1876)
| |
![]() | |
Joint range of Germain's langur and Annamese langur |
Germain's langur (Trachypithecus germaini) [1] is an Old World monkey native to Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. [3] [2] The monkey was previously included in Trachypithecus cristatus [3] and Trachypithecus villosus. [2]
Two subspecies were recognized: [3]
Germain's langur is part of the leaf monkey subfamily Colobinae. [4] Two subspecies of the Germain's langur are recognized: Trachypithecus germaini germaini and Trachypithecus germaini caudalis. [4] [5] [6] However, the classification of the Germain's langur has been contested, with T. germaini being grouped with other species in its subfamily. [4] [7] T. germaini and T. margarita were considered to be a single species, T. villosus, but morphological and genetic evidence has shown that they are distinct. [4] [7] [8] [9] T. germaini has also been grouped with T. cristatus until recent reclassifications. [4]
Trachypithecus germaini goes by several common names such as the Indochinese lutung, Germain's langur, Germain's silver langur, Indochinese leaf monkey, and Indochinese silvered langur. [10]
Germain's langur has black colouration on its hands and feet, as well as the upper part of its body which fades into paler grey on its underparts. [4] They have long grey tails and white hairs on its round face. [4] Their young have bright orange fur. [4]
The limits of the distribution of Germain's langur are not well known, but they are currently found in Asia, specifically Cambodia, Vietnam, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Thailand. [2] Populations in Vietnam are severely reduced, with few sightings in the last 50 years. [2] [11] In Lao PDR, the species has no continuous range, rather multiple patches of higher relative abundance. [2] [11] Its distribution in Cambodia is widespread, but its abundance will vary from common to rare. [2] One of the few sites with a population estimate is Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary where a stable population of 1487 is reported. [12] [13] In Thailand, the species is common, with many protected areas supporting large populations. [2] Germain's langur is a terrestrial arboreal species, often found in lowlands. [2] They prefer evergreen and semi-evergreen, riverine, mixed deciduous, and gallery forests. [2] They are not commonly found at high elevations or hilly areas. [2]
The diet of Germain's langur is folivorous consisting of leaves, shoots, and fruits. [4] [14] They are also observed to consume mushrooms (mycophagy) and soil (geophagy). [14] Their folivorous diet dictates a resting period, in which they can undergo the process of rumination. [14] [15]
Trachypithecus germaini, and other Asian colobines, are generally less frequently engaged in social interaction than frugivorous primates such as macaques. [14] [16] They have a lower affinity to social behaviour in comparison to feeding and resting which makes up the majority of their day. [14] However, T. germaini is often found in troops of 10 to 50 individuals in close social proximity. [4] [14]
Predators of Trachypithecus, including the Germain's langur, include leopards, tigers, dholes, and large snakes. [17] A variety of small carnivores will feed on the young. [17]
Prevalent threats to Germain's langur include hunting, exotic pet trading, and habitat loss due to agricultural expansion. [2]
T. germaini is considered endangered by the IUCN, with a greater than 50% decline in the past three generations. [2] It is listed under CITES Appendix II, meaning that trade of the species must be controlled to avoid endangerment. [2] [18]
Little conservation efforts have been made, despite the species designation. [7] [14] Several protected areas have been established across its range which aids in the conservation of the species. The species has been recorded in numerous protected areas in Vietnam and Thailand. [2] In Vietnam, their populations have increased in two protected areas, Phú Quốc National Park and Kiên Lương Karst Area, demonstrating the importance of conservation efforts. [19]