Douc Langurs (Pygathrix spp.) Fact Sheet: Summary

Kingdom: Animalia - animals

Phylum: Chordata - chordates

Class: Mammalia - mammals

Order: Primates - primates

Family: Cercopithecidae - Old World monkeys

Genus: Pygathrix - douc langurs or doucs

Species: Pygathrix cinerea - gray-shanked douc langur (central Vietnam)
Species: Pygathrix nemaeus - red-shanked douc langur (northern Vietnam, Laos)
Species:  Pygathrix nigripes - black-shanked douc langur (southern Vietnam, Cambodia)

Head-body length
Red-shanked, males: 55-63 cm (22-25 in)
Red-shanked, females: 49-57 cm (19-22 in)
Gray-shanked, males: 55-66 cm (22-26 in)
Gray-shanked, females: 51-58 cm (20-23 in)
Black-shanked, males: 55-65 cm (22-26 in)
Black-shanked, females: 54-60 cm (21-24 in)

Tail Length
Red-shanked, males: 52-66 cm (20-26 in)
Red-chanked, females: 42-59 cm (17-23 in)
Gray-shanked, males: 56-65 cm (22-26 in)
Gray-shanked, females: 54-62 cm (21-24 in)
Black-shanked, males: 69-85 cm (27-33 in)
Black-shanked, females: 65-80 cm (26-31 in)

Weight
Red-shanked, males: 8-11.6 kg (18-25.6 lb)
Red-shanked, females: 6-8 kg (13-18 lb)
Gray-shanked, males: 8-12.5 kg (18-27.6 lb)
Gray-shanked, females: 4.7-11.7 kg (10.4-25.8 lb)
Black-shanked, males: 8-11 kg (18-24 lb)
Black-shanked, females: 6-8.2 kg (13-18.1 lb)

Pelage
See species-specific descriptions in General Appearance.

Range
Southeast Asia, including Cambodia, Vietnam; less known about status in Laos

Habitat
Appear to occupy a variety of forest habitats: hill, evergreen, mixed deciduous, and certain types of tropical forests

IUCN Status
P. cinerea: Critically Endangered (2015 assessment)
P. nemaeus: Critically Endangered (2015 assessment)
P. nigripes: Critically Endangered (2015 assessment)

CITES Appendix
All three species listed on Appendix I.

Populations in Wild
Decreasing. Black-shanked douc langur much more abundant than gray-shanked and red-shanked douc langur. See Population estimates.

Locomotion
Quadrupedal movement through trees; infrequently "swing" from tree to tree

Activity Cycle
Diurnal

Social Groups
Groups range from 3-50 with mixture of males and females; some solitary individuals observed

Diet
Leaves and other foliage; unripe fruit

Predators
Humans and large carnivores

Sexual Maturity
Females: 4-6 years
Males: 4-9 years

Gestation
200-205 days

Litter Size
Single young

Interbirth Interval
11-38 months

Birth Weight
About 460 g (16.2 oz)

Age at Weaning
Begun by 12-13 months

Typical Life Expectancy
Managed care: no AZA estimates

Feature Facts

• Considerable play in family groups
• Vocalize infrequently; make very soft sounds
• Travel throught the rainforest single file
• Eat plant materials from more than 50 different trees
• Observed to lick dew off leaves
• White hairs around a male's face grow with age
• During pregnancy females become increasingly calm and quiet; don't participate in social activities
• Loss of forest, hunting, and illegal trade contribution to rapid population declines
• First successful birth of in managed care at San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance in August 1969