Tarai gray langur

Tarai gray langur[1]
Tarai Gray langur at Kilbury Road Nainital
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Family: Cercopithecidae
Genus: Semnopithecus
Species: S. hector
Binomial name
Semnopithecus hector
Pocock, 1928
Tarai Gray Langur range

The Tarai gray langur (Semnopithecus hector) 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.[2]

It is one of several Semnopithecus species named after characters from The Iliad, along with Semnopithecus ajax and Semnopithecus priam.

Distribution and habitat

Tarai gray langurs are native to Bhutan, northern India and Nepal, where they inhabit the Himalayan foothills from Rajaji National Park to southwestern Bhutan. They live in the moist deciduous forest of the Siwaliks, to oak forest in higher altitudes ranging from 150 to 1,600 m (490 to 5,200 ft) in elevation.[2]

Ecology and behaviour

Tarai gray langurs are arboreal, mainly terrestrial, diurnal, folivorous, and occur in multi-male multi-female groups.[3] They have been observed feeding in orchards and crop fields outside of Rajaji National Park.[2]

References

  1. ^ Groves, C. (2005). Wilson, D. E., & Reeder, D. M, eds. ed. Mammal Species of the World (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 174. OCLC 62265494. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3/browse.asp?id=12100697. 
  2. ^ a b c d Molur, S., Chhangani, A. (2008). "Semnopithecus hector". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.4. International Union for Conservation of Nature. http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/39837. Retrieved 21 August 2011. 
  3. ^ Molur, S., Brandon-Jones, D., Dittus, W., Eudey, A., Kumar, A., Singh, M., Feeroz, M. M., Chalise, M., Priya, P. and Walker, S. (2003) Status of South Asian Primates: Conservation Assessment and Management Plan Workshop Report, 2003. Zoo Outreach Organization/CBSG-South Asia, Coimbatore, India.