Kashmir gray langur

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Kashmir gray langur
CITES Appendix I (CITES) [1]
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: Semnopithecus
Species:
S. ajax
Binomial name
Semnopithecus ajax
Pocock, 1928 [2]
Kashmir Gray Langur area.png
Kashmir gray langur range

The Kashmir gray langur (Semnopithecus ajax) is an Old World monkey, one of the langur species. It is a leaf-eating monkey. [2]

It has been reported from Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh in northwestern India but evidence indicates it only occurs in the Chamba Valley in Himachal Pradesh. Because of its restricted range, fragmented population and threats from human agriculture and development activities it is listed as Endangered in the IUCN Red List. [1] In Pakistan it occurs in Machiara National Park. [3]

It was formerly considered a subspecies of Semnopithecus entellus and is one of several Semnopithecus species named after characters from The Iliad , along with Semnopithecus hector and Semnopithecus priam . [4]

Ecology and behaviour

It is arboreal and diurnal, and lives in temperate and alpine forests. [1] It lives at the highest elevation of any non-human primate in the world and is found in forests at elevations ranging from 1,500 to 4,733 m (4,921 to 15,528 ft). [1] [5]

The birthing season for the Kashmir gray langur runs from January through June, although almost half of all infants are born in March. The infants are weaned at a higher age than most Asian colobines. While most Asian colobines wean their young within the first year, Kashmir gray langurs wean their young on average at 25 months. This is apparently due to nutritional constraints, since monkeys in poorer sites wean their young at an older age. The interbirth interval for females is about 2.4 years. Alloparental care occurs in Kashmir gray langur for up to 5 months. Males are usually protective of infants, but infanticide occasionally occurs. [6]

Although most Asian colobine groups comprise only a single adult male and multiple females, multimale groups are known to occur within Semnopithecus species. In Kashmir gray langurs, multimale groups may include as many as five adult males. Females initiate copulation by soliciting a male, but not all solicitations result in copulation. [6]

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 one 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Douc</span> Genus of Old World monkeys

The doucs or douc langurs make up the genus Pygathrix. They are colobine Old World monkeys, native to Southeast Asia, which consists of these 3 species: red-shanked douc, black-shanked douc, and gray-shanked douc.

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

The purple-faced langur, also known as the purple-faced leaf monkey, is a species of Old World monkey that is endemic to Sri Lanka. The animal is a long-tailed arboreal species, identified by a mostly brown appearance, dark face and a very shy nature. The species was once highly prevalent, found in suburban Colombo and the "wet zone" villages, but rapid urbanization has led to a significant decrease in the population level of the monkeys. It had traditionally been classified within the genus Trachypithecus but was moved to the genus Semnopithecus based on DNA evidence indicating that is it more closely related to the gray langurs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colobinae</span> Subfamily of Old World monkeys

The Colobinae or leaf-eating monkeys are a subfamily of the Old World monkey family that includes 61 species in 11 genera, including the black-and-white colobus, the large-nosed proboscis monkey, and the gray langurs. Some classifications split the colobine monkeys into two tribes, while others split them into three groups. Both classifications put the three African genera Colobus, Piliocolobus, and Procolobus in one group; these genera are distinct in that they have stub thumbs. The various Asian genera are placed into another one or two groups. Analysis of mtDNA confirms the Asian species form two distinct groups, one of langurs and the other of the "odd-nosed" species, but are inconsistent as to the relationships of the gray langurs; some studies suggest that the gray langurs are not closely related to either of these groups, while others place them firmly within the langur group.

<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">Black-footed gray langur</span> Species of Old World monkey

The black-footed gray langur is an Old World monkey, one of the species of langurs. Found in southern India, this, like other gray langurs, is a leaf-eating monkey.

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

The Hatinh langur is a highly threatened Old World monkey found in limestone forests in Vietnam, primarily in the Quảng Bình Province. A recent survey discovered a small population living in the Quảng Trị Province. Contrary to its name, it is not known from the Hà Tĩnh Province. The local Van Kieu minority refer to this monkey as the 'Con Cung', which roughly translates as "black, cliff-dwelling monkey with a long tail". It resembles the closely related François' langur, but its white cheek-stripes typically extend behind the ears onto the nape, and the overall black colour is non-glossy and has a brownish tinge.

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

The silvery lutung, also known as the silvered leaf monkey or the silvery langur, is an Old World monkey. It is arboreal, living in coastal, mangrove, and riverine forests in Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo, Java, and other nearby islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gray-shanked douc</span> Species of Old World monkey

The grey-shanked douc langur is a douc species native to the Vietnamese provinces of Quảng Nam, Quảng Ngãi, Bình Định, Kon Tum, and Gia Lai. The total population was estimated at 550 to 700 individuals in 2004. In 2016, Dr. Benjamin Rawson, Country Director of Fauna & Flora International's Vietnam Programme, announced a discovery of an additional population including more than 500 individuals found in Central Vietnam, bringing the total population up to approximately 1000 individuals.

<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">Javan surili</span> Species of Old World monkey

The Javan surili is a vulnerable species of Old World monkey endemic to the western half of Java, Indonesia, a biodiversity hotspot. Other common names by which it is known by include gray, grizzled or Sunda Island surili; grizzled or stripe-crested langur; Javan grizzled langur; grizzled, Java or Javan leaf monkey; langur gris.

<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">Northern plains gray langur</span> Species of mammal

The northern plains gray langur, also known as the sacred langur, Bengal sacred langur and Hanuman langur, is a species of primate in the family Cercopithecidae.

The Indochinese black langur is a poorly known Old World monkey native to Laos and adjacent Vietnam. It was originally described as a subspecies of T. auratus, but was later found to be a member of the T. francoisi group, with some maintaining it as a subspecies of that species. In 2001, it was recommended treating it as a separate species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern plains gray langur</span>

Southern plains gray langur was the common name ascribed to Semnopithecus dussumieri by Mammal Species of the World in 2005. Along with several other Semnopithecus, it had been previously considered a subspecies of the northern plains gray langur, Semnopithecus entellus, i.e., Semnopithecus entellus dussumieri. Subsequent genetic research has revealed that Semnopithecus dussumieri is an invalid taxon. These monkeys live in groups in forests and other rural habitats, with some groups being habituated to human contact and feeding. They are herbivorous, feeding by day mainly on foliage, fruits and flowers, and sleeping at night high in a tree.

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

The Nepal gray langur is a gray langur endemic to the Himalayas in Nepal, far southwestern Tibet, northern India, northern Pakistan, Bhutan and possibly Afghanistan. It is found in forests at an elevation of 1,500 to 4,000 metres. Its easternmost limit in India is Buxa Tiger Reserve in northern West Bengal, at least up to the Rydak river.

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

The Tarai gray langur is an Old World monkey, and was formerly considered a subspecies of the northern plains gray langur. The species is listed as near threatened, as there are probably not many more than 10,000 mature individuals, and it is experiencing a continuing decline.

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

The tufted gray langur, also known as Madras gray langur, and Coromandel sacred langur, is an Old World monkey, one of the species of langurs. This, like other gray langurs, is mainly a leaf-eating monkey. It is found in southeast India and Sri Lanka. It is one of three Semnopithecus species named after characters from The Iliad, S. hector and S. ajax being the others. In Sinhala it is known as හැලි වදුරා.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Kumar, A.; Singh, M.; Anandam, M.; Ahuja, V.; Kumara, H.N. & Molur, S. (2020). "Semnopithecus ajax". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020: e.T39833A17943210. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T39833A17943210.en . Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  2. 1 2 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. 174. ISBN   0-801-88221-4. OCLC   62265494.
  3. Minhas, R. A.; Ahmed, K. B.; Awan, M. S.; Dar, N. I. (2010). "Social organization and reproductive biology of Himalayan grey langur (Semnopithecus entellus ajax) in Machiara National Park, Azad Kashmir (Pakistan)". Pakistan Journal of Zoology. 42: 143–156.
  4. 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. pp. 174–175. ISBN   0-801-88221-4. OCLC   62265494.
  5. Minhas, R.A.; Ali, U.; Awan, M.S.; Ahmed, K.B.; Khan, M.N.; Dar, N.I.; Qamar, Q.Z.; Ali, H.; Grueter, C.C.; Tsuji, Y. (2013). "Ranging and foraging of Himalayan grey langurs in Machiara National Park, Pakistan". Primates. 54 (2): 147–152. doi:10.1007/s10329-013-0345-7. PMID   23408044.
  6. 1 2 Kirkpatrick, R. C. (2007). "The Asian Colobines". In Campbell, C. J.; Fuentes, A.; MacKinnon, K.C.; Panger, M.; Bearder, S. K. (eds.). Primates in Perspective. pp. 191–193, 196. ISBN   978-0-19-517133-4.