Germain's langur

Germain's langur (Trachypithecus germaini)[1] is a lutung native to Thailand, Burma, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.[3][2] The Old World monkey was previously included in Trachypithecus cristatus[3] and Trachypithecus villosus.[2]

Germain's langur[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Suborder: Haplorhini
Infraorder: Simiiformes
Family: Cercopithecidae
Genus: Trachypithecus
Species group: Trachypithecus cristatus group
Species:
T. germaini
Binomial name
Trachypithecus germaini
Joint range of Germain's langur and Annamese langur

Two subspecies were recognized:[3]

  • Trachypithecus germaini germaini
  • Trachypithecus germaini caudalis

Taxonomy and Evolutionary History

Germain's langur is part of the leaf monkey subfamily Colobinae.[4] Two subspecies of the Germain's langur are recognized: Trachypithecus germaini germaini and Trachypithecus germaini caudalis.[4][5][6] However, the classification of the Germain's langur has been contested, with T. germaini being grouped with other species in its subfamily.[4][7] T. germaini and T. margarita were considered to be a single species, T. villosus, but morphological and genetic evidence has shown that they are distinct.[4][7][8][9] T. germaini has also been grouped with T. cristatus until recent reclassifications.[4]

T. germaini goes by several common names such as the Indochinese lutung, Germain’s langur, Germain’s silver langur, Indochinese leaf monkey, and Indochinese silvered langur.[10]

Description

Germain's langur has black colouration on its hands and feet, as well as the upper part of its body which fades into paler grey on its underparts.[4] They have long grey tails and white hairs on its round face.[4] Their young have bright orange fur.[4]

Distribution and Habitat

The limits of the distribution of Germain's langur are not well known, but they are currently found in Asia, specifically Cambodia, Vietnam, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Thailand.[2] Populations in Vietnam are severely reduced, with few sightings in the last 50 years.[2][11] In Lao PDR, the species has no continuous range, rather multiple patches of higher relative abundance.[2][11] Its distribution in Cambodia is widespread, but its abundance will vary from common to rare.[2] In Thailand, the species is common, with many protected areas supporting large populations.[2] Germain's langur is a terrestrial arboreal species, often found in lowlands.[2] They prefer evergreen and semi-evergreen, riverine, mixed deciduous, and galley forests.[2] They are not commonly found at high elevations or hilly areas.[2]

Behaviour

The diet of Germain's langur is folivorous consisting of leaves, shoots, and fruits.[4][12] This diet dictates a resting period, in which they can undergo the process of rumination.[12][13]   

T. germaini, and other Asian colobines, are unsocial primates.[12][14] They have a lower affinity to social behaviour in comparison to feeding and resting which makes up the majority of their day.[12] However, T. germaini is often found in troops of 10 to 50 individuals in close social proximity.[4][12]

Predators and Threats

Predators of lutungs, including the Germain's langur, include leopards, tigers, dholes, and large snakes.[15] A variety of small carnivores will feed on lutung young.[15]

Prevalent threats to Germain's langur include hunting, exotic pet trading, and habitat loss due to agricultural expansion.[2]

Status and Conservation

T. germaini is considered endangered by the IUCN, with a greater than 50% decline in the past three generations.[2] It is listed under CITES Appendix II, meaning that trade of the species must be controlled to avoid endangerment.[2][16]

Little conservation efforts have been made, despite the species designation.[7][12] Several protected areas have been established across its range which aids in the conservation of the species. The species has been recorded in numerous protected areas in Vietnam and Thailand.[2] In Vietnam, their populations have increased in two protected areas, Phú Quốc National Park and Kiên Lương Karst Area, demonstrating the importance conservation efforts.[17]

References
  1. Roos, C., Boonratana, R., Supriatna, J., Fellowes, J.R., Groves, C.P., Nash, S.D., Rylands, A.B. and Mittermeier, R.A. (2014). "An updated taxonomy and conservation status review of Asian primates" (PDF). Asian Primates Journal. 4 (1): 2–38. Retrieved 2018-08-30.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  2. Nadler, T.; Timmins, R. J. & Richardson, M. (2008). "Trachypithecus germaini". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008: e.T39874A10278272. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T39874A10278272.en.
  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.
  4. Supanuam, Praween; Tanomtong, Alongklod; Khunsook, Sumpars; Khrueanet, Wilailuk; Pinthong, Krit; Wonkaonoi, Weeranuch (2015). "The First Report on Standardized Karyotype and Idiogram of Indochinese Silvered Langur, Trachypithecus germaini germaini (Primates, Colobinae) in Thailand". Cytologia. 80 (2): 183–192. doi:10.1508/cytologia.80.183. ISSN 0011-4545.
  5. Parr, John W. K. (2003). A Guide to the Large Mammals of Thailand. Bangkok: Sarakadee Press. ISBN 9744840404.
  6. Francis, Charles M. (2001). A photographic guide to mammals of Thailand & South-East Asia. Asia Books. OCLC 45914721.
  7. Timmins, R. J.; Steinmetz, R.; Poulsen, M. K.; Evans, T. D.; Duckworth, J. W.; Boonratana, R. (2013). "The Indochinese Silvered Leaf Monkey Trachypithecus germaini ( Sensu lato ) in Lao PDR". Primate Conservation. 26 (1): 75–87. doi:10.1896/052.026.0112. ISSN 0898-6207.
  8. Roos, C.; et al. (2008). "Mitochondrial phylogeny, taxonomy and biogeography of the silvered langur species group (Trachypithecus cristatus)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 47 (2): 629–636. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2008.03.006. PMID 18406631.
  9. Nadler, Tilo (2016). Rowe, Noel; Myers, Marc (eds.). All the World's Primates. Pogonias Press. pp. 601–602. ISBN 9781940496061.
  10. "Checklist of CITES species". checklist.cites.org. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  11. Duckworth, William (1964-). Compilation. Salter, Richard Edward. Compilation. Khamkhoun Khounboline. Compilation. (1999). Wildlife in Lao PDR : 1999 status report. World Conservation Union. ISBN 2-8317-0483-9. OCLC 799695132.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. de Groot, Brenda; Nekaris, Anna (2016). "Ecology of the Germain's Langur Trachypithecus germaini in a Pre-release Environment and the Implications for its conservation". Asian Primates Journal. 6 (1) – via Research Gate.
  13. Korstjens, Amanda H.; Lehmann, Julia; Dunbar, R.I.M. (2010). "Resting time as an ecological constraint on primate biogeography". Animal Behaviour. 79 (2): 361–374. doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2009.11.012. ISSN 0003-3472.
  14. Kirkpatrick, R.C. 2011. The Asian colobines: diversity among leaf-eating monkeys. In: Primates in Perspective, C.J. Campbell, A. Fuentes, K.C. MacKinnon and M. Panger (eds.), pp. 189–202. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.
  15. Harding, Lee E. (2010-01-25). "Trachypithecus cristatus (Primates: Cercopithecidae)". Mammalian Species. 42: 149–165. doi:10.1644/862.1. ISSN 0076-3519.
  16. "How CITES works | CITES". www.cites.org. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  17. Van Tran, Bang; Nguyen, Minh Anh; Nguyen, Dat Quoc; Truong, Quan Bich Thi; Ang, Andie; Covert, Herbert H.; Hoang, Duc Minh (2017). "Current conservation status of Germain's langur (Trachypithecus germaini) in Vietnam". Primates. 58 (3): 435–440. doi:10.1007/s10329-017-0610-2. ISSN 0032-8332. PMID 28492971.
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