Gee's golden langur

Last updated

Gee's golden langur [1]
Golden langur.jpg
CITES Appendix I (CITES) [3]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Suborder: Haplorhini
Infraorder: Simiiformes
Family: Cercopithecidae
Genus: Trachypithecus
Species:
T. geei
Binomial name
Trachypithecus geei
(Khajuria, 1956)
Subspecies [1]
  • Trachypithecus geei geeiKhajuria, 1956
  • Trachypithecus geei bhutanensisWangchuk, 2003
Trachypithecus geei distribution.svg
Gee's golden langur geographic range

Gee's golden langur (Trachypithecus geei), also known as simply the golden langur, is an Old World monkey found in a small region of Western Assam, India and the neighboring foothills of the Black Mountains of Bhutan. Long considered sacred by many Himalayan people, the golden langur was first brought to the attention of the Western world by the naturalist Edward Pritchard Gee in the 1950s. Adult males have a cream to golden coat with darker flanks while the females and juveniles are lighter. The golden langur has a black face and a long tail up to 50 cm (19.69 in) in length. It lives in high trees and has a herbivorous diet of fruits, leaves, seeds, buds, and flowers. The average group size is eight individuals, with a ratio of several females to each adult male. It is one of the most endangered primate species of India and Bhutan.

Contents

In 2008-09, there were 6,000 golden langurs in India, which has grown to 7,396 in 2020-21. [4]

Discovery and etymology

The earliest record of the golden langur is in an 1838 paper by Robert Boileau Pemberton which states that "Griffith observed these monkeys near Tongso in Central Bhutan." [5] [6] However, since Pemberton's work was lost and not rediscovered until the 1970s, the scientific discovery of the golden langur unfolded differently. In 1907, Edward Oswald Shebbeare—who was out with some hunters and forest rangers—reported seeing a "cream coloured langur" in the vicinity of the Jamduar. [7] [nb 1] However, neither a photograph nor a live or dead specimen was presented at that time. The first reference to the golden langur in print, as an animal of unidentified taxonomic status, was in a 1919 publication that stated: " Pithecus sp? – A pale yellow coloured langur is common in the adjoining district of Goalpara (Assam). Jerdon reported one from Terai, the adjacent district on the (west) side, which Blanford suggested might be P. entellus." [8] [9]

In February 1947, in the Forest Rest House visitors' book in Raimona, a few miles south of Jamduar, C. G. Baron reported seeing some langurs whose "whole body and tail is one colour – a light silvery-gold, somewhat like the hair of a blonde." A year later, back in Jamduar, H. E. Tyndale, a tea planter, reported seeing "Sankosh cream langurs." [9] However, it wasn't until a few years later that a focused effort to identify the golden langur was mounted by Gee, who traveled back to Jamduar in November 1953. His team was able to observe three groups of golden langurs, all on the east bank of the Sankosh River. The first group was observed on the Bhutan side of the border; the second group, a large one of 30 to 40 individuals, a mile north of Jamduar on the Indian side; and a third group four to five miles (6.44 km to 8.05 km) south near Raimona. Colour movies of the second group were made by Gee. [9]

In August 1954, Gee reported his findings to an expert at the Zoological Society of London, who advised that the golden langur might be a new species. In January 1955, Gee also reported his results to the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and, after showing his movies of the golden langurs, suggested that Jamduar be included in the then-upcoming ZSI survey of that region. [10] The suggestion received the support of Dr. Sunder Lal Hora, then Director of ZSI, and later that year six specimens of the golden langur were collected by the survey party. [9] The following year, Dr. H. Khajuria, a taxonomist who studied the specimens, described the new species naming it Presbystis geei in honour of Gee. [11] [nb 2]

Taxonomy

There are two subspecies of this species: [1]

The subspecies are separated by a geological fault in the Himalayas called the Main Frontal Thrust. T. g. bhutanensis occurs in the northern part of the species range in Bhutan and T. g. geei is found in the south of Bhutan and Assam in northern India.

In Bhutan, it has hybridised with T. pileatus , the capped langur. [13] [14] This is believed to be due to the construction of permanent bridges across the Chamkar River, a tributary of the Mangde River which separates the two species. [15]

Physical description

Closeup of face Trachypithecus geei (Assam, 2006).jpg
Closeup of face

The coat of the adult golden langur ranges from cream to golden, on its flanks and chest the hairs are darker and often rust coloured while the coats of the juveniles and females are lighter, silvery white to light buff. [16] The coat changes color seasonally, from white or cream coloured in the summer to dark golden or chestnut in the winter. Their long whiskers protect their eyes from rain during monsoon.[ citation needed ] The golden langur has a black face and a large whorl of hair on its crown. [11]

Gee's golden langur exhibits sexual dimorphism. Males are larger and more robust than females. Adult males weigh 10.8 kilograms (24 lb) on average and adult females weigh 9.5 kilograms (21 lb). [17] The length of the head and body ranges from 50–75 centimetres (20–30 in), [18] while the relatively long tail is 70–100 centimetres (28–39 in) in length. [12] [18]

Distribution

Gee's golden langur is found in an area of approximately 30,000 square kilometres (12,000 sq mi), much of which is unsuitable habitat, [19] bounded on the south by the Brahmaputra River, on the east by the Manas River, on the west by the Sankosh River, in Assam, India, and on the north by the Black Mountains of Bhutan. [20] These biogeographical barriers are believed to have led to the radiation of species from the closely related capped langur (Trachypithecus pileatus). [21] There are two primary sub-populations fragmented by the National Highway 27. The northern sub-population occupies the western portion of the Manas National Park, extending from the Sankosh River to the Manas River along the northern side of National Highway 27 and State Highway 2, reaching the India-Bhutan border. Conversely, the southern sub-population is situated along the southern side of NH27, extending to the Brahmaputra River. Population estimates of the 2020-21 survey, indicate a larger northern population, totaling 5,566 individuals distributed across 534 groups and 23 lone males. In contrast, the southern fragmented population consists of approximately 1,830 langurs organized into 173 groups and eight lone males. Notably, the Ripu Reserve Forest hosts the highest number (2,847 individuals) within the northern sub-population, while the Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary in Kokrajhar district harbors the most significant number (838 individuals) within the southern fragmented range. [4]

In 1988, two captive groups of Gee's golden langur were released into the wild in Tripura state in north-eastern India, an area outside of their natural range. [22] One of the groups, released into Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary, survives and has adapted to the wild. [23]

Behavior and ecology

For the most part, the langur is confined to high trees where its long tail serves as a balancer when it leaps across branches. During the rainy season it obtains water from dew and rain-drenched leaves. Its diet is herbivorous, consisting of ripe and unripe fruits, mature and young leaves, seeds, buds and flowers. It generally lives in troops of about 8, with a ratio of several females to each adult male. The smallest golden langur troop was composed of four individuals, while the largest had 22, giving an average value of 8.2 individuals per troop. The adult gender ratio was 2.3 females to every male, although the majority of groups had only one adult male. [24]

Conservation

Gee's golden langur is currently endangered with a decreasing population trend; the total population of mature adults has been estimated as 6000–6500. [25] It is one of the most endangered primate species of India and Bhutan. [26] In India, 93% of the population is found in forest reserves (Chirang, Manas, and Ripu) and the western part of Manas National Park, and the remaining occur in several small isolated fragments. [14] The population has declined by more than 30% in the last 30 years and is expected to decline further shortly. Golden langurs are protected by law in their range. The species is listed in Appendix I of CITES, [27] and in Schedule I of both, the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 of India, [28] and the Forest and Nature Conservation Act of Bhutan, 1995. [29]

Within India

On 5 June 2019, the district authorities of Bongaigaon district in Assam launched a project under the MGNREGA to plant guava, mango, blackberry and other fruit trees to ensure that the resident golden langurs of the Kakoijana reserved forest do not have to risk their lives to find food. Several golden langurs have died due to electrocution and in road accidents while looking for food beyond the reserve forests. [30] In 1988, two captive groups of golden langurs were released into two protected areas of the western region of the state of Tripura, India. As of 2000, one of these groups, consisting of six (and possibly eight) individuals in the Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary, had survived. [22] The relative death of infants and juveniles indicates a declining population with the habitat being degraded by human activity. A fragmented but protected population in a rubber plantation in the Nayakgaon, Kokrajhar, district of Assam increased in population from 38 individuals in 1997 to 52 in 2002. The population has also adapted to feeding on dry rubber seeds. [31]

Notes

  1. ↑ Jamduar was a village in the early 1900s, which is now a part of the town of Kokrajhar
  2. ↑ The new name, Presbystis geei, came to be inadvertently included in Gee's 1955 short note which was published two months before Khajuria's 1956 paper proposing the name. [7]

Related Research Articles

<i>Semnopithecus</i> Genus of Old World monkeys

Semnopithecus is a genus of Old World monkeys native to the Indian subcontinent, with all species with the exception of two being commonly known as gray langurs. Traditionally only the species Semnopithecus entellus was recognized, but since about 2001 additional species have been recognized. The taxonomy has been in flux, but currently eight species are recognized.

<i>Trachypithecus</i> Genus of Old World monkeys

Trachypithecus is a genus of Old World monkeys containing species known as lutungs, langurs, or leaf monkeys. Their range is much of Southeast Asia.

<i>Presbytis</i> Genus of south-east Asian monkeys

Presbytis is a genus of Old World monkeys also known as langurs, leaf monkeys, or surilis. Members of the genus live in the Thai-Malay Peninsula, on Sumatra, Borneo, Java and smaller nearby islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nilgiri langur</span> Species of Old World monkey

The Nilgiri langur is a langur. This primate has glossy black fur on its body and golden brown fur on its head. It is similar in size and long-tailed like the gray langurs. Females have a white patch of fur on the inner thigh. It typically lives in troops of nine to ten monkeys. Its diet consists of fruits, shoots and leaves. The species is classified as vulnerable due to habitat destruction and poaching for its fur and flesh, the latter believed to have aphrodisiac properties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Javan langur</span> Species of Old World monkey

The East Javan langur, also known as the ebony lutung, Javan langur or Javan lutung, is an Old World monkey from the Colobinae subfamily. It is most commonly glossy black with a brownish tinge to its legs, sides, and "sideburns". It is found on the island of Java, as well as on several of the surrounding Indonesian islands. The Latin word auratus in its scientific name means "golden", and refers to a less common color variant. Note that the common name golden langur is used for a different species.

Edward Pritchard Gee (1904–1968) was a Cambridge educated, Anglo-Indian tea-planter and an amateur naturalist in Assam, India. He is credited with the 1953 discovery of Gee's golden langur. He is notable as an early influential wildlife conservationist, especially for his 1959 and 1963 surveys and recommendations resulting in the creation of Chitwan National Park, the first of nine national parks in Nepal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manas National Park</span> National park in Assam, India

Manas National Park is a national park, Project Tiger reserve, and an elephant reserve in Assam, India. Located in the Himalayan foothills, it borders the Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan. The park is known for its rare and endangered endemic wildlife such as the Assam roofed turtle, hispid hare, golden langur and pygmy hog. Manas is also famous for its population of the wild water buffalo. Because of its exceptional biodiversity, scenery, and variety of habitats, Manas National Park is a biosphere reserve and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern Himalayan broadleaf forests</span>

The Eastern Himalayan broadleaf forests is a temperate broadleaf forest ecoregion found in the middle elevations of the eastern Himalayas, including parts of Nepal, India, Bhutan, Myanmar and China. These forests have an outstanding richness of wildlife.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cat Ba langur</span> The rarest monkey in Asia

The Cat Ba langur, also known as the golden-headed langur, is a critically endangered species of langur endemic to Cát Bà Island, Vietnam. It is among the rarest primates in the world, and possibly the rarest primate in Asia, with population size estimated at less than 70 individuals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Biodiversity of Assam</span> Biodiversity of Assam, a state in North-East India

The biodiversity of Assam, a state in North-East India, makes it a biological hotspot with many rare and endemic plant and animal species. The greatest success in recent years has been the conservation of the Indian rhinoceros at the Kaziranga National Park, but a rapid increase in human population in Assam threatens many plants and animals and their natural habitats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phayre's leaf monkey</span> Species of Old World monkey

Phayre's leaf monkey, also known as Phayre's langur, is a species of Old World monkey native to South Asia and Southeast Asia, namely India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. Populations from further east are now thought to belong to other species. It is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is threatened by hunting and loss of habitat. The species epithet commemorates Arthur Purves Phayre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manas River</span> River in Bhutan, China and India

The Manas River, known in Bhutan as the Drangme Chhu, is a transboundary river in the Himalayan foothills between southern Bhutan, India, and China. It is the largest of Bhutan's four major river systems, with the other three being the Amo Chu or Torsa River, the Wang Chu or Raidak, and the Puna Tshang Chu or Sankosh. It is met by three other major streams before it again debouches into India in western Assam. The river flows for a total length of 400 kilometres (250 mi), including through Tibet for 24 km (15 mi), Bhutan for 272 kilometres (169 mi), and Assam for 104 kilometres (65 mi) before it joins the mighty Brahmaputra River at Jogighopa. A major tributary of the Manas, the Aie River, joins it in Assam at Bangpari.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raffles' banded langur</span> Species of primate in Malaysia and Singapore

The Raffles' banded langur, also known as the banded leaf monkey or banded surili, is a species of primate in the family Cercopithecidae. It is endemic to Singapore and southern Peninsular Malaysia. The species underwent taxonomic revisions in 2019 and 2020, in which two former subspecies were elevated to separate species. As a result, the Raffles' banded langur meets the criteria for being listed as critically endangered by the IUCN. It is mainly threatened by habitat loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mentawai langur</span> Species of Old World monkey

The Mentawai langur is a species of primate in the family Cercopithecidae. It is endemic to the Mentawai Islands in Indonesia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests. The Siberut langur was formerly considered a subspecies of the Mentawai langur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dusky leaf monkey</span> Species of Old World monkey

The dusky leaf monkey, also known as the spectacled langur or the spectacled leaf monkey, is a species of primate in the family Cercopithecidae. It is found in Peninsular Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand, and can occasionally be found in Singapore. During the day, these small, folivorous primates divide in sub-groups and forage for vegetation and fruit throughout the tropical forests. According to the IUCN, the dusky leaf monkey's population is declining due to habitat loss, poaching, and anthropogenic land use, which prompted the IUCN to classify the species as endangered in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Capped langur</span> Species of mammal

The capped langur is a species of primate in the family Cercopithecidae. It is native to Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Myanmar. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests. It is threatened by habitat loss. They are arboreal and gregarious by nature. A herd of capped langurs consists of 2 to 14 langurs led by a single male. They are herbivorous, eating leaves, twigs, buds and fruits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anwaruddin Choudhury</span>

Anwaruddin Choudhury is an Indian naturalist, noted for his expertise on the fauna of North-East India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Manas National Park</span> National Park of Bhutan

Royal Manas National Park is Bhutan's oldest national park, and the Royal government considers it the "conservation showpiece of the Kingdom" and a "genetic depository" for valuable plants. It has an area of 1,057 square kilometres (408 sq mi) and covers eastern Sarpang District, the western half of Zhemgang District, and western Pemagatshel District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Selangor silvered langur</span> Species of Old World monkey

The Selangor silvered langur is a species of leaf monkey found on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. It had been previously considered a form of silvery lutung. Roos and colleagues elevated this population to a subspecies level, Trachypithecus cristatus selangorensis, in 2008. It has since come to be regarded by primatologists as a separate species, Trachypithecus selangorensis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raimona National Park</span> National park in Assam

Raimona National Park is located in extreme western part of Assam, India. It is spread across Gossaigaon and Kokrajhar subdivisions of Kokrajhar district of Bodoland Territorial Region.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Groves, C. P. (2005). Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 176. ISBN   0-801-88221-4. OCLC   62265494.
  2. ↑ Das, J.; Medhi, R. & Molur, S. (2008). "Trachypithecus geei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2008: e.T22037A9348940. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T22037A9348940.en .
  3. ↑ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  4. 1 2 Karmakar, Rahul (9 March 2024). "India's golden langur population estimated at 7,396". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  5. ↑ Pemberton 1838.
  6. ↑ Khajuria 1978.
  7. 1 2 Gee 1961.
  8. ↑ Inglis et al. 1919.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Gee 1961, pp. 1–4.
  10. ↑ Gee 1955.
  11. 1 2 Khajuria 1956.
  12. 1 2 Wangchuk, Inouye & Hare 2003.
  13. ↑ Choudhury 2008.
  14. 1 2 Ram et al. 2016.
  15. ↑ Wangchuk 2005, p. 4.
  16. ↑ Prater 1971, p. 42.
  17. ↑ Fleagle 1999.
  18. 1 2 Gurung & Singh 1996.
  19. ↑ Srivastava et al. 2001.
  20. ↑ Srivastava et al. 2001, p. 15.
  21. ↑ Wangchuk, Inouye & Hare 2008.
  22. 1 2 Gupta & Chivers 2000.
  23. ↑ Gupta & Mukherjee 1994.
  24. ↑ Srivastava et al. 2001, p. 18.
  25. ↑ "Gee's golden langur". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species .
  26. ↑ Srivastava et al. 2001, pp. 15–23.
  27. ↑ "CITES Appendices I, II and III". Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  28. ↑ Government of India (Ministry of Law). "Wildlife (Protection) Act (1972)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 March 2018. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  29. ↑ Government of Bhutan (1995). "Forest and Nature Conservation Act of Bhutan 1995". www.asianlii.org. Archived from the original on 5 September 2019. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  30. ↑ Rahul Karmakar (9 June 2019). "Golden langur to get fruits of MGNREGA". The Hindu.
  31. ↑ Medhi et al. 2004.

Literature cited

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.