Douc Langurs (Pygathrix spp.) Fact Sheet: Physical Characteristics

Body measurements

Data source: Groves et al. (2013)

• Pygathrix nemaeus (Red-shanked douc) (northern Vietnam and Laos)
  • Face pale yellow-orange with white muzzle (darkens with sun exposure). White whiskers are very long
  • Even-length coat. No cape.
  • Sharply defined multi-colored coat.
  • Gray back and underparts. Upper part of legs is black as well as hands, feet, brow and shoulders
  • White tail, throat, sides of face, forearms and genital region
  • Prominent white rump patch. Males (unlike females) have circular white spot on either side and superior to the corners of the rump patch
  • Knee and below is rust-colored
  • Penis is red, scrotum white
  • Infants gray with black face and two pale stripes beneath eyes. Red tail patch.
  • Tail ends in a thick tassel
• Pygathrix nigripes (Black-shanked douc) (southern Vietnam and Cambodia)
  • Like the red-shanked but face is blue-gray with yellow-orange eye rings. Black wedge of color between ear and cheek. Shorter whiskers
  • Black area on forehead continues behind ears and onto shoulders
  • Hind limbs entirely black
  • Fore limbs and body gray, belly is paler gray. Hands are black
  • Scrotum and inside of thighs are blue
  • Penis is pink
  • White rump patch surrounds tail. Males (unlike females) have circular white spot on either side and superior to the corners of the rump patch. Tail ends in a thin tassel
• Pygathrix cinereus (Grey-shanked douc) (south eastern part of Central Highlands)
  • Face coloration like red-shanked douc. Whiskers intermediate between P. nemaeus and P. nigripes
  • Lighter than the two other subspecies
  • Black band on forehead is narrower than other subspecies and not connected to the black shoulders
  • White throat has a thick band of orange.
  • Belly is light grey (lighter than P. nemaeus nigripes)
  • Scrotum is white, penis pink
  • Patch above root of tail and tail itself is white
  • White rump patch surrounds tail. Males (unlike females) have circular white spot on either side and superior to the corners of the rump patch. Tail ends in a thin tassel

• Modification of the growth pattern of nose cartilage to form a nasal flap
• Eyes almond-shaped and set at an angle. Color is dark brown, ringed in black.
• Known hybrids between P. n. nemaeus and P. n. nigripes have different coloration

The red-shanked douc langur has a pale yellow-orange face and long white whiskers.

Image credit: © San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. All rights reserved.

Ankel-Simons (2000)
Lippold (1998)
Napier & Napier (1967)
Nowak (1999)